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08/31/04 – SPORT PILOT: WHEN’S IT HAPPENING?
The new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule is officially effective as of Sept. 1, 2004, but it is a “rolling” implementation. That means that various portions of the rule will become effective over the six months leading to March 1, 2005, as the infrastructure to support sport pilots is set.
Here’s a timeline of key dates and milestones for sport pilot/light sport aircraft:
September 1, 2004:
- Current pilots (with pilot certificate and current flight review) can begin flying under sport pilot regulations with no additional training or registration;
- Non-current pilots (with pilot certificate but expired flight review) can pass flight review and fly as sport pilots, provided they hold a valid U.S. driver’s license;
- Deadline for ultralight pilots to be registered with EAA, ASC or USUA to get full credit for ultralight training and flight experience.
October 2004 (exact dates not yet set):
- FAA anticipates making the Practical Test Standards, the booklets outlining essential information for the knowledge (written) and practical (flight) sport pilot tests, available by month’s end;
- Applications for Designated Pilot Examiners will be accepted;
- Applications for light-sport aircraft Designated Airworthiness Representatives will be accepted;
- Guidelines for light-sport aircraft repairman training will be available;
- Owners of two-place ultralight trainers and “fat ultralights” (single-seat aircraft weighing more than 254 pounds) can apply for FAA registration and receive N-numbers.
November 1, 2004:
- FAA ready to accept student pilot applications for sport pilots
November/December 2004:
- FAA ready to accept student pilot applications for sport pilots
- The first training courses for light-sport aircraft Designated Airworthiness Representatives will be offered.
January 1, 2005
- FAA will be ready to issue the first certificates for the following:
- Sport Pilots
- Sport Pilot instructors (CFIs)
- Factory-built light-sport aircraft (Special Light-Sport Aircraft or S-LSA)
- Amateur-built light-sport aircraft (Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft or E-LSA)
- Light-Sport Aircraft repairmen (maintenance and inspection ratings)
- Ratings for Private Pilots who have additional training in weight-shift aircraft or powered parachutes
Also in January 2005
- Initial Designated Pilot Examiner courses
- Applications accepted for additional category & class ratings for sport pilots
January 31, 2007
- Deadline for registered ultralight pilots to take the sport pilot tests without additional training hours;
January 31, 2008
- Final day for E-LSA certificates to be granted to current two-place ultralight trainers or “fat ultralights”
January 31, 2008
- All two-place ultralight training aircraft exemptions expire.
January 31, 2010
- Last day that a sport pilot CFI may take compensation to give instruction in a two-place ultralight trainer that was converted to an E-LSA.
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