Advantages of Earning a Sport Pilot License
If a passion for flight overwhelms you, then you understand the draw that earning your pilot license has. You can’t get enough of that sense of total freedom as you navigate your way through the sky. Piloting produces dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins: all essential for happiness and that rush you get when you slide into the pilot’s seat. A sport pilot license can provide you with that experience of freedom with plenty of advantages over any other pilot certificate.
Accessibility
A sport pilot license is actually far more accessible for more people than other avenues for earning your pilot license. In fact, you can earn your certificate with a minimum of 20 hours of flight training, though it sometimes can take as many as 35-40. Even at the top of the range, that’s significantly less than the national average of 50-60 hours it takes to earn your private pilot certificate.
Not only do the training requirements make the sport license more attractive to more people, but the fact that you don’t have to participate in a medical screening opens the door to flying for plenty of capable, safe pilots. The FAA passes restrictions on individuals who currently have or have experienced in the past color blindness, allergies that require allergy medication, ear problems, a high pulse or high blood pressure, any past history of substance dependence including alcohol or drugs, diabetes, angina, any form of heart disease, any past heart surgery including pacemaker placement, any nervous system issues, or a variety of mental health. The key here is the phrase “in the past.” That means no matter what your current health is, you could be at risk of not passing the health screening if you’ve experienced some pretty widespread and treatable health issues. With a sport pilot license, you aren’t required to go through the medical screening, so as long as you are in good health now, you’re safe to fly a light sport aircraft.
Not only do the training requirements make the sport license more attractive to more people, but the fact that you don’t have to participate in a medical screening opens the door to flying for plenty of capable, safe pilots. The FAA passes restrictions on individuals who currently have or have experienced in the past color blindness, allergies that require allergy medication, ear problems, a high pulse or high blood pressure, any past history of substance dependence including alcohol or drugs, diabetes, angina, any form of heart disease, any past heart surgery including pacemaker placement, any nervous system issues, or a variety of mental health. The key here is the phrase “in the past.” That means no matter what your current health is, you could be at risk of not passing the health screening if you’ve experienced some pretty widespread and treatable health issues. With a sport pilot license, you aren’t required to go through the medical screening, so as long as you are in good health now, you’re safe to fly a light sport aircraft.
Not only do the training requirements make the sport license more attractive to more people, but the fact that you don’t have to participate in a medical screening opens the door to flying for plenty of capable, safe pilots. The FAA passes restrictions on individuals who currently have or have experienced in the past color blindness, allergies that require allergy medication, ear problems, a high pulse or high blood pressure, any past history of substance dependence including alcohol or drugs, diabetes, angina, any form of heart disease, any past heart surgery including pacemaker placement, any nervous system issues, or a variety of mental health. The key here is the phrase “in the past.” That means no matter what your current health is, you could be at risk of not passing the health screening if you’ve experienced some pretty widespread and treatable health issues. With a sport pilot license, you aren’t required to go through the medical screening, so as long as you are in good health now, you’re safe to fly a light sport aircraft.
A sport pilot license is actually far more
Not only do the training requirements make the sport license more attractive to more people, but the fact that you don’t have to participate in a medical screening opens the door to flying for plenty of capable, safe pilots. The FAA passes restrictions on individuals who currently have or have experienced in the past color blindness, allergies that require allergy medication, ear problems, a high pulse or high blood pressure, any past history of substance dependence including alcohol or drugs, diabetes, angina, any form of heart disease, any past heart surgery including pacemaker placement, any nervous system issues, or a variety of mental health. The key here is the phrase “in the past.” That means no matter what your current health is, you could be at risk of not passing the health screening if you’ve experienced some pretty widespread and treatable health issues. With a sport pilot license, you aren’t required to go through the medical screening, so as long as you are in good health now, you’re safe to fly a light sport aircraft.
Economics
One of the major benefits of earning your sport pilot license is the cost since it ends up being about 1/3 to ½ the cost of earning a private pilot certificate. In fact, the entire experience is more economical. If you’re looking at buying even a new light sport aircraft versus any other machine, you could be looking at a difference of well over $100,000. If that doesn’t pique your interest in a sport pilot license, then the cost of fuel most definitely will. Some light sport aircraft can fly for as little as $25 per hour, which simply can’t be found with any license other than the sport pilot certificate.
Value
Light sport aircraft hold their value over long periods of time, too. They’ve got some of the best resale values of any aircraft, so earning your sport pilot license with the intention of owning a sport plane is a great move to make if you want security when your invest in your machine. Their engines are valued more than other aircraft; the technology is generally more desired and sleek; they’re considered safer than regular airplanes because of installed safety features like ballistic parachutes; and they’re just a more popular way to fly. If you’re looking for something to help you explore your passion for flying while still protecting your investment, earning your sport license is the way to go.
Upkeep
If you’re passionate about all things flying, then you might be interested to know that once you’ve earned your sport pilot license, you can also take steps to maintain your own machine as well. With the proper training, you can avoid paying someone else to keep up with the maintenance requirements. Sport pilots can take a two-day course to learn their Light Sport Repairman-Inspection certificate (LSR-I) to conduct their yearly conditions inspections on their own. With maintenance requirements that are more consistent and less complex, sport pilots can also take the LSR-M 15-day course to learn to maintain their planes independently, too. And the parts for light sport aircraft are simply more accessible; in fact, many locations have all the parts to assemble an entire plane on-site, providing you with the security of knowing you’ll be able to get whatever parts you need when you need them. If you love to fly and would love to know your plane inside and out, then the sport pilot route is the right path for you.
If you’ve been captured by the passion and freedom a pilot license offers, then you know nothing else will satisfy you until your dream is achieved. You’ve got many options for reaching your goal to sit in the pilot’s seat, but if you’re looking for a way to fly for your own personal engagement and enrichment, then the sport pilot license really can’t be beat.
Stop dreaming and start flying. Call or text us today at (757) 821-7355, and we will get you on the flight schedule.