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LSA North, Inc is the upper-Midwest distributor for the Flight Design CT ~ The Worldwide leading seller in light sport aircraft! We are
Minnesota's premier Sport Pilot Flight School and LSA sales
specialists.
Frequently Asked Questions Below are some of the FAQ we
hear from people about learning to fly, FAA regulations, Sport Pilots, Light
Sport Aircraft (LSA), and general aviation. Please send your questions or
comments to: ScottJ@LSANorth.com
or call (651) 340-5150 or Toll Free (877) 865-3070
- What does it cost to learn to fly? Due to
differences in the learning speed, and study habits, of individual student
pilots there is no hard and fast figure. At a minimum the regulations
require 15 hours of flight training and 5 hours of solo flight, before being
eligible to take your Sport Pilot practical exam (check-ride and oral). Thus, $93 per aircraft rental
hour (wet, includes gas) the airplane will run you at least $ 1,860. The
instructor will be at least $ 600 @ $ 40 per flight instruction hour.
This does not include the ground instruction
time needed to prepare you to take your FAA Knowledge Test. This can
vary from 0~20 hours depending upon student. Your check ride and FAA
exams will cost an additional $ 500 or so, and your text books in a "student
pilot kit" another $ 150 or more. So, at a minimum the cost of
obtaining your initial Sport Pilot license will run at least $ 3,000. Most
people take longer than the minimum 20 hours, and 30~40 hours is common, which
raises the total cost to about $ 4~5,000. Flight training is usually
purchased by the hour, and not in a lump sum, so this expense can be spread
out over time.
- How does the Sport Pilot license compare to the Private Pilot
license? Starting at the beginning, the cost of
obtaining a Sport Pilot license is half that of the Private Pilot license
(PPL). Regulations require a minimum of 20 hours training for the Sport
Pilot and 40 for the Private Pilot. Most people, in either category,
will usually take double the minimum to get their license. Thus a Sport
Pilot license will cost between $ 3,000~5,000 and a Private Pilot license will
cost between $ 6,000 ~ 11,000 dollars. *Based upon February 2008 rates
at LSA North, Inc. and subject to change.
- Will my Sport Pilot instruction apply towards future pilot ratings?
Yes! Almost all, and sometimes all, of your time spent in Sport Pilot training will count
toward future ratings and time building in Single Engine Land SEL aircraft.
It depends if your instructor is a CFI-Airplane, or a CFI-Sport; and if your
cross country training flights were longer than the short cross country
distances listed for Sport Pilots vs. Private Pilots. Operating a Light
Sport Aircraft is much cheaper for flight schools and renters than operating a
standard category training airplane. Light Sport Aircraft generally only
burn 3~5 gallons of gas per hour, vs. two or three times that in other
aircraft. This is why the LSA market is going to grow quickly.
- Can I share the cost of training with other students?
Yes and no. Yes, you may share
ground school and instructor time. This is a
great way to reduce the cost of your initial pilot training. No, you may
not share airplane rental (solo flight time) with other student pilots until
after you get your initial Sport Pilot license. Once licensed, Sport
Pilots may share the rental expense of an aircraft as they build flight time
toward advanced ratings. Renting an LSA at $ 93
per hour is much cheaper than renting a standard trainer (i.e. a Cessna 172 or
a Piper Warrior) at sometimes $ 150 or more!
- Can I get financing toward my pilot license?
Yes. Many
flight schools have partnerships with local banks and can help you with
financing your flight training or the purchase of an aircraft.
- What should I bring to my first flight lesson? Your first
flight lesson will be one to remember for the rest of your life. Start
with an open mind, a good night's sleep, a solid meal, and perhaps having done
some reading beforehand of what to expect. A bottle of water, chewing
gum, and a camera would be good items to bring with you.
Your instructor will provide you with a headset initially, but you will want
to purchase your own gear eventually. We are a dealer for
LightSPEED headsets and can assist you with this
purchase. FAA Regulations require that your
instructor verify your US Citizenship prior to starting initial flight
training. Please bring a photo copy of your passport or birth
certificate. A photo copy of your state drivers license is also needed
if you will be flying without a Third Class medical under the Sport Pilot
regulations allowing you to substitute a drivers license for a medical.
Lastly, payment is expected at the end of all flights. LSA North, inc.
will accept credit cards, checks, or cash for payment.
- Is it better to own or rent an airplane for my flight training?
It depends. If you are going to be working toward an advanced
rating that requires many hours of burning holes in the sky and flying in circles,
yes. You may save money by owning your own
airplane. If you are just going to fly occasionally for fun, then
no, it probably does not make financial sense to purchase an airplane. Unless you
just simply want to own an airplane and not be a renter.
Why do fishermen buy their own boats? Why do people buy sports cars?
Why do golfer's buy memberships in a country club? One of the best parts
of the LSA program is that it has brought, fun, safety,
and affordability of airplanes back to the general public at a level not seen
since the aviation heydays of the 1950's! There are also income tax
advantages to owning an airplane! By
leasing it back to a local flight
school, you can also make money with your airplane.
- How long does it take to get my pilot license?
Generally, most people only fly once or twice per week during training.
With weather, illness, or mechanical cancellations don't be surprised to see
50% of scheduled lessons cancelled. We could put together an
Accelerated Flight Training class and be
done in as little as a week. It will take at least one month. For
most people it is several months, or a year on a leisure training pace.
Ideally, you should fly at least two or three times per week to
maximize your learning and not have to relearn as much between lessons.
How quickly you progress is up to you.
- How old do I have to be to learn to fly? There is no
minimum age to start flight instruction. However, to fly the airplane
solo you must be at least 16 years old, and 17 to take to your check-ride for
your pilot license. There is no maximum age to learning to fly. As
long as you have a valid State Drivers License, and no medical impairments
that would prevent you from exercising the privileges of that license, you may
fly as a Sport Pilot without a FAA Medical Certificate.
- Where can I get more information on the
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) governing learning to fly?
The best place to get your questions answered is from the FAA
directly. Do not be afraid to call the FAA or your local Flight
Standards District Office
FAA - Great Lakes Region Flight Standards Division and the
Minneapolis FSDO with questions. It is better to know the regulators
and regulations before you make a mistake and meet them afterwards.
- Where can I get more information about the Sport Pilot program?
There are a number of message boards on the Internet that are a good source of
information. CT Flyer - the Flight
Design CT owners board. Sport Pilot
Talk for general aviation pilots of all aircraft types. The
EAA and
SportPilot.org is also a good source for information on being a Sport
Pilot and the LSA program.
- When can I start my flight training?
Please call or email us today, and we will work with
you to get you flying and on the way toward your first pilot license quickly!
Fly a CT....Faster!
Please visit the LSA North flight training page for more information about learning to fly, or if you
are a pilot already on renting, or
owning a CT. New ground schools are starting soon. Call or
email us today!
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