April 15th NPRM To Bring Sport Pilot "In Line" With Other
Certificates
The FAA has proposed amended rules
for sport pilots and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating,
in an NPRM entitled, "Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the
Operation of Light Sport Aircraft; Modifications to Rules for Sport
Pilots and Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating."
According to the FAA, they believe "these changes are necessary
to address airman certification issues that have arisen since
regulations for the operation of light-sport aircraft were
implemented. These changes would align the certification
requirements for sport pilots and flight instructors with a sport
pilot rating with those requirements currently applicable to other
airmen certificates."
Specific modifications to current Rule-Making include:
Replace sport pilot privileges with aircraft category and class
ratings on all pilot certificates.
Replace sport pilot flight instructor privileges with aircraft
category ratings on all flight instructor certificates.
Remove current provisions for the conduct of proficiency checks
by flight instructors and include provisions for the issuance of
category and class ratings by designated pilot
examiners.
Place all requirements for flight instructors under a single
subpart (subpart H) of part 61.
Require 1 hour of flight training on the control and
maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments for
student pilots seeking a sport pilot certificate to operate an
airplane with a maximum airspeed in level flight with maximum
continuous power (VH) greater than 87 knots calibrated airspeed
(CAS) and sport pilots operating airplanes with a VH greater than
87 knots CAS.
Remove the requirement for persons exercising sport pilot
privileges and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating to
carry their logbooks while in flight.
Remove the requirement that persons exercising sport pilot
privileges have an aircraft make-and-model endorsement to operate a
specific set of aircraft while adding provisions for endorsements
for the operation of powered parachutes with elliptical wings and
aircraft with a VH less than or equal to 87 knots CAS.
Remove the requirement for all flight instructors to log at
least 5 hours of flight time in a make and model of light-sport
aircraft before providing training in any aircraft from the same
set of aircraft in which that training is given.
Permit persons exercising sport pilot privileges and the
privileges of a student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate to
fly up to an altitude of not more than 10,000 feet mean sea level
(MSL) or 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL), whichever is higher.
Permit private pilots to receive compensation for production
flight testing of powered parachutes and weight-shift-control
aircraft intended for certification in the light-sport category
under §21.190.
Revise student sport pilot solo cross-country navigation and
communication flight training requirements.
Clarify cross-country distance requirements for private pilots
seeking to operate weight-shift-control aircraft.
Revise aeronautical experience requirements at towered airports
for persons seeking to operate a powered parachute or
weight-shift-control aircraft as a private pilot.
Remove the requirement for pilots with only a powered parachute
or a weight-shift-control aircraft rating to take a knowledge
test for an additional rating at the same certificate level.
Revise the amount of hours of flight training an applicant for
a sport pilot certificate must log within 60 days prior to
taking the practical test.
Remove expired ultralight transition provisions and limit the
use of aeronautical experience obtained in ultralight
vehicles.
Add a requirement for student pilots to obtain endorsements
identical to those proposed for sport pilots in §§61.324
and 61.327.
Clarify that an authorized instructor must be in a
powered parachute when providing flight instruction to a student
pilot.
Remove the requirement for aircraft certificated as
experimental aircraft in the light-sport category to comply with
the applicable maintenance and preventive maintenance requirements
of part 43 when those aircraft have been previously issued a
special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category.
Require aircraft owners or operators to retain a record of the
current status of applicable safety directives for special
light-sport aircraft.
Provide for the use of aircraft with a special airworthiness
certificate in the light-sport category in training courses
approved under part 141.
Revise the minimum safe-altitude requirements for powered
parachutes and weight-shift-control aircraft.
A 120 day comment period has been specified for the NPRM which
is scheduled for publication, April 15th, 2008.
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