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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.
Please visit LSA North Products & Services for more information about learning to fly, or if you are a pilot on renting a CT. If you need more information on the Light Sport Aircraft regulations, please visit the EAA and the Sport Pilot Organization.
Stick-n-Rudder Flight Training 20 Below Zero and 20 new Flight Students in Ground School
In 2005 LSA North, Inc. became the exclusive distributor of the Flight Design CT for the Upper Midwest (IL, WI, MN, SD, ND) they knew that they needed to do more than just sell airplanes. They had to educate the public and pilots what Light Sport Aircraft and Sport Pilots are. They also needed to be able to train their aircraft buyers how to fly their new airplane.
Still today most flight schools and flight instructors do not yet fully understand the value of adding this certificate to their training program and are not promoting it as they should be.
When someone calls a flight school and inquires about the cost and requirements of becoming a “pilot” they are thinking Private Pilot and not Sport Pilot. What we are seeing is that the average (middle age) student is not interested in ever becoming a Commercial Pilot and has no immediate need for an Instrument rating. Thus, he/she could be an ideal candidate for the new Sport Pilot certificate.
Becoming a Sport Pilot, and let us hence force just call them a Pilot, is half the time and half the cost (or less) than that of becoming a (ahem) Private Pilot.
All primary flight training and flight hours count toward future ratings and Pilot certificates. The first bonus is that this newly certificated Pilot can now take his wife (or girlfriend…) on a personal Discovery Flight whereas the traditional Student Pilot is still burning holes in the sky by himself (or paying a CFI to come along) building time toward the Private Pilot certificate. Usually an extra 20-40 hours of solo time before getting that initial Pilot license. That is expensive and hard to explain to his wife sitting home alone watching their money fly away without her.
Some of the major differences in the initial Pilot certificates are the limitation to stay under 10,000 MSL, fly only in day VFR weather and in a two-seat airplane under 120 knots. When was the last time most Private pilots had the need to do otherwise? Remember, we are talking about entry-level pilots here, not advanced Commercial pilots.
We are also focusing on the returning pilot who perhaps because of a medical certificate issue can no longer fly as a Private Pilot. Does this person need to go faster than 120 knots or higher than 10,000 with six friends in back’?
Like any flight school that is teaching primary students how to fly, we focus on the basics (which apply to every pilot and rating); Judgment, Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM), Crew Resource Management (CRM), Weather (WX), Aircraft Maintenance needs (MX) and logbooks. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM), charts, Airport Facility Directories (AFD) and flight planning. The Sport Pilot (ahem), Pilot ground school and basic flight training is identical to that of the Private Pilot certificate. We just omit the night flights and hood work.
So why aren’t more instructors teaching the Sport Pilot program or flying a Light Sport Aircraft? After nearly five years of regulatory existence, it cannot be chalked up to ignorance anymore because all good pilots are always learning and looking to grow. There must be more to it. There needs to be greater understanding of the value the Sport Pilot certificate. The fastest growing segment of General Aviation.
Most of the LSA that we see flying or For Sale today are a more technologically advanced airplane (TAA) than many commercial aircraft flying across the oceans each day. Glass cockpits, autopilots, GPS and XM weather radios are the norm and not the exception. Composite airframes, BRS, and reliable engines contribute to speed, safety and low hourly fuel burn rates. How does 2.84 gallons per hour sound to a flight school owner, and it is automobile gas to boot! Moreover, you can advertise that you are a Green Flight School and saving the environment!
LSA North, Inc operates out of the AirLake (KLVN) airport. New Pilots, or seasoned pilots, are invited to stop by and test-drive a CT. For more information visit us on the web at www.LSANorth.com or email our Chief Pilot, Scott Johnson CFI at ScottJ@LSANorth.com
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