Thu, Sep 09, 2004
FAA Meeting Opens This Week To Review And Advance Sport-Pilot
Infrastructure
EAA notes that the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft final rule
has been effective for less than a week, but that the
infrastructure necessary to ensure sport pilot's success, is coming
together as industry leaders meet this week with top
officials of the FAA's newly created Light-Sport Aviation
Branch.
Participants at this three-day gathering will review and make
recommendations in several areas created by the rule, such as:
practical test standards for all sport-pilot ratings; written tests
for sport pilots and sport-pilot instructors; sport pilot
examiners; light-sport aircraft operating limitation/airworthiness
issues; light-sport aircraft repairman courses; and requirements
for light-sport aircraft designated airworthiness
representatives.
"This session is a historic milestone," said Earl Lawrence, EAA
vice president of government and industry relations. "It is a
ground breaking approach for FAA to include the aviation community
in the development of testing standards and inspection processes,
rather than just giving them review privileges after the fact. FAA
has made clear it's willing to make this a cooperative venture.
This level of cooperation is representative of the respect and
trust FAA has for EAA and others who have been part of the
decade-long process to make sport pilot a reality."
EAA staff experts accompanying Lawrence in Oklahoma City are
Charlie Becker, director of aviation information services, and Mary
Jones, editor of EAA Sport Pilot & Light-Sport Aircraft
magazine. Rusty Sachs, executive director of the EAA-affiliated
National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), is also
participating in the session, as are some 30 other industry and
association leaders. That group includes John and Martha King of
King Schools, who are working with EAA to develop sport-pilot
training materials.
Martin Weaver, manager of FAA's Light-Sport Aviation Branch,
brought his entire staff to the gathering and opened the meetings
on Tuesday, Sept. 7, by encouraging the input of all participants.
The session will continue through Friday, Sept. 10, building on
meetings begun two years ago to develop the testing and inspection
processes for sport pilots and light-sport aircraft. Development of
the final standards and processes could not be completed until the
SP/LSA rule was final. Weaver announced that FAA expects to release
the practical test material and other standards beginning in early
October 2004.
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