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ASC, PO Box 589, Marshall, MI  49068    phone 269-781-4021   fax 269-781-7400  email kimojim@aol.com

This is a place to show Q&A on Sport Pilot.   Ask your question at  kimojim@aol.com:

Q.

It is not quite clear to me about the transition on one point. Apparently you must be a member of an exemption holding organization on or before Sept 01, 2004 in order to transition to SP under grandfathering allowances. Can you still obtain your BFI after that or is that a cutoff date for obtaining the BFI, as well?

A.

Yes, you can still get your BFI until 1/31/08 when the exemptions all stop.

Getting your BFI before 9/1/04 has benefits:

1) They will accept the ASC Fundamentals of Instruction test results

2) You do not have to have a recommendation to take the Sort Pilot Instructor (SPI) check ride

3) You do not have to have the specific hours for specific training logged (Note, you will still have to meet the total hours, and hours in type requirements.  For powered parachutes that is 100 hours, 50 in type.)

After 9/1/04 , getting a BFI still helps.  In particular:

1) Your hours will count direct towards SPI (Note, you will still have to meet the total hours, and hours in type requirements.  For powered parachutes that is 100 hours, 50 in type.)

2) You will have to have specific training logged for cross country and other items such as 3 hours prep for the check ride.

3) When you bring in your Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA) it will get special limitations that allow you to train in it for hire until 8/31/09 .

4) You get to fly the exempt vehicle two place until you transition to SPI

Stay tuned, we have a plan to expedite the process.  I will be writing about it.

There are 10,000 other questions I am writing about in the Oct. mag.

Jim Stephenson

Q.  

If one wants a SP pilot's ticket but not a CFI-SP and one has a BFI obtained after Sept 01, 2004 , would that transition more seamlessly than the BFI to CFI-SP? The pilot would have more than the required 20 hours for the SP ticket if he held a BFI. I'm just looking for things to tell my beginning students of which I have 5 right now. I'm suggesting they go for the BFI and transition later. Is that good advice? I'm also suggesting they join an exemption holding organization (I push for ASC) right away.

Marty

A.

Both are good ideas.  Yes, BFI to Sport Pilot will be more seemless than BFI to Sport Pilot Instructor.

Within the month we will have guidance out for you to be able to complete most of the logged training hours in exempt vehicles to support them.  They will however have to have 3 hours prep in an N numbered ELSA for the check ride if they are not Registered Pilots or BFIs by 9/1/04 .

Q.

Hi Jim –

 I’ve been flying a Pegasus 912 for nearly 4 years with over 350 hours logged. I’ve had my PP since 1978.

 Recently I completed the two BFI tests and now plan to take the check-ride with a local AFI.  Now, under the new SP rules, is there a PP endorsement available that would take the place of a separate BFI rating?   I very very very very simply want to fly within the law and take up passengers for pleasure in my little trike-mobile.  Nothing more…nothing less.

 I would appreciate any clarification or suggestions.

A.

There will be a way to fly two place under Sport Pilot, however:

 1) There has to be an FAA instructor available to check you out.  That will take at least until the end of January, 2005.  Longer, if you are not in just the right place in the country.

2) You will have to N number your trike and if it has not been flown 40 under an exemption then you will have to have someone fly off the time before you can use it for the check ride.  Alternately, you could get checked out in a rental, when available, and then fly your own time off.

3)  We are planning "Blitz" sessions all over the country to solve this "chicken and egg" problem.   But they will be next year before we really get started.

So....  If you want to fly two place NOW!  The easiest way is to be a BFI and not use your PPsel until you can bring in your trike as an ELSA (experimental Light Sport Aircraft)   The key suggestion is that you have enough legal time before we are ready to bring it in that your time is flown off.

Jim S

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Last updated: July 05, 2008.