|
ASC,
Sport Pilot and YOU!
By
Jim Stephenson, CEO/President ASC
updated
8/18/04
There
are so many questions floating out there about the new Sport Pilot rule.
What, how, when? The answers
are all in the “simple” 462 page rule…. “Right”!
Even in its simple versions, like the summary that follows, it is hard to
take in all the issues and answers. Hopefully
the summary will answer a lot of your questions.
Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft is a massive rule change.
It is not going to be simple to look at the whole thing.
There will be new questions coming up for a long time.
But, some early answers are here.
To make those answers easier to understand, the following articles will
break the issues down by specific needs. Sport
Pilot for…Ultralight Pilots, FAA Pilots, Basic Flight Instructors, Dealers,
Manufacturers and Fixed Base Operators.
An estimated 15,000 planes and pilots need to transition under the Sport
Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft rule in three years.
This is a huge task, to say the least.
As an innovative approach, we need to transition through this process in
a way that can leave our community even stronger.
The glass is not “half empty”. It’s
“half full”. The Sport Pilot
transition is not a difficult problem. It
is a remarkable opportunity!
Chicken and Egg Problem
The problem is one of a “chicken and egg” problem.
When you register your plane with the FAA and receive an “N” number
and it is certificated as an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA) you can
not fly it until you have an FAA pilot certificate.
You can not take your check ride for a sport pilot certificate in your
own plane until it has an “N” numbered and an airworthiness certificate.
“Blitz” Solution
The solution is a process of “Blitz” events that allow a qualified
registered ultralight pilot and BFI to process FAA certification for both their
plane and the pilot certificate in one 7 day event.
Qualified registered pilots and BFIs prepare for the event by completing
the needed up-front paperwork to a guide plan.
They arrive at the event to share support from inspectors, teachers,
instructors and examiners, such that both the Sport Pilot (or Instructor)
certificate and ELSA certification are achieved in parallel.
Participants then can enjoy the following show or event as certificated
pilots in their own ELSAs. This
is the process each of the following articles on specific needs will point to as
a way to promote the completion of the transition.
Aviation Support Centers Are the
Opportunity
The opportunity is unique to use this process to promote a
stronger community. The concept is
to focus these “Blitz” events at Aviation Support Centers all over the
nation. They should be such that
almost everyone is within 300 miles of an “
ASC
Aviation
Support
Center
”. The Blitz process will help all
the local pilots and instructors transition to Sport Pilot and SP CFI.
This will plant new Fixed Based Operators in the area and “mark the
ground” of the
Aviation
Support
Center
as the place to go to get classroom, checkout and inspection support.
Then ASC will support these locations on a rotating basis with advanced
classes. In this way we can make the
advanced classes less expensive and promote the
Aviation
Support
Center
to support the community
The New Fixed Base Operators
These new FBOs will come from the ranks of both the BFIs
today and the current General Aviation FBOs, at least those FBOs sharp enough to
understand the potential for improving their business.
While many BFIs will simply become Sport Pilots and fly for fun, those
that are active instructors will be able to be more efficient with ASC Aviation
Support Centers to help with the advanced classes and examiner and inspector
support. That is what the
ASC
Aviation
Support
Center
concept is all about, making the community stronger.
“Sharing the air” and sharing the power to support the community.
“Blitz” Planning
ASC will be coordinating Blitz Planning for the next three
years. The first confirmed Blitz is
planned for
South Lakeland
,
Florida
April 5-11, 2005. Other
events are in the making including one August 25-31, 2005, before the ASC
Nationals in
Three Rivers
Michigan
. Watch the planning progress on web
site www.aerosports.org .
The ASC FAST program is a Focused Accelerated
Sport Transition that will be implemented at "Blitz"
events all over the nation. A FAST Blitz is an all out effort, no
resources reserved, to appropriately achieve a worthy goal, in this case, pilot
and plane certification to the new Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft rules.
When you sign up for a Blitz, you will get a preparation
package that includes everything you need to have and do prior to the Blitz in
order to be ready.
For your special concerns, see the following articles.
If you have other questions, see our web site www.aerosports.org
or call ASC at 269-781-4021.
ASC Helps! Join
ASC at www.aerosports.org .
| 