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Light Sport pilot glider (add on)

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twocool...@juno.com

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Apr 17, 2011, 11:32:23 PM4/17/11
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I've just had a second light sport pilot airplane, ask me about
getting the endorsement for light sport pilot glider.

What's the deal here?

Has anybody actually done this? Are there any glider instructors out
there who would do this sign off...any instructors who would do the
check ride?

Any commercial operators who whould rent gliders to a LSA glider
pilot?

How about insurance?

Do gliders even qualify as LSA?

Any clubs which allow members to fly on light sport pilot glider
certificate??

Cookie

Wayne Paul

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Apr 18, 2011, 8:37:58 AM4/18/11
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That is a lot of questions to for a single post. So I'll start out here
with the basic LSA definitions.
http://www.aerofiles.com/LSA.html

The 120 kt Vne limit requirement is the disqualifying factor for most
gliders. The flight altitude limit of 10,000 msl is the tall pole in the
tent for pilots who fly "out West."

As for insurance, there doesn't seem to be a problem getting insurance for
powered LSA so I don't see why it would be a problem for gliders.

The FAA prescribes who and what training is required. Here is a list of
people who should be able to answer most of the training and endorsement
questions.
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/sport_pilot/media/glider_examiner.pdf

Wayne
http://tinyurl.com/N990-6F


<twocool...@juno.com> wrote in message
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kd6veb

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Apr 18, 2011, 11:56:08 AM4/18/11
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Hi
The LSA rules for a glider are absurd. The VNE rating of 120knots?
Where did they come up with that? But as with most ridiculous things
there are ways around the nonsense. If you wish to register a glider
as a LSA just have the manufacturer redefine the VNE as 120knots in
the manual, placards etc. My new Phoenix motorglider is placarded at
120knots VNE irrespective of what its reasonable VNE should be. On the
question of max altitude. If you have a regular glider license there
is no altitude limit when flying a LSA glider. If you only have a LSA
glider ticket the limitation is 10,000 feet msl or 2,000 feet agl
enough to get you over all high passes. My biggest gripe with all this
nonsense is that is we had an effective SSA we wouldn't have this
silliness but as you all know a few years ago the SSA was run by a
load of crooks who stole funds and had no interest in such things as
rules and regs and consequently things like the LSA glider rules were
put together by the FAA without feedback from glider pilots.
Grr.......!
Dave

gregg...@gmail.com

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Apr 18, 2011, 12:22:46 PM4/18/11
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Meh. The LSA glider rules could be better, could be worse. All they
do is make it slightly cheaper for SP transition pilots. SP
transitions will either dabble happily in sailplanes under SP or
easily convert up to PP for a few hundred bucks. End result another
glider pilot, all good in my book. Does the Phoenix have the high
speed polar to go anywhere at 120 knots?

twocool...@juno.com

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Apr 18, 2011, 7:18:26 PM4/18/11
to
On Apr 18, 8:37 am, "Wayne Paul" <wa...@soaridaho.com> wrote:
> That is a lot of questions to for a single post.  So I'll start out here
> with the basic LSA definitions.http://www.aerofiles.com/LSA.html

>
> The 120 kt Vne limit requirement is the disqualifying factor for most
> gliders.  The flight altitude limit of 10,000 msl is the tall pole in the
> tent for pilots who fly "out West."
>
> As for insurance, there doesn't seem to be a problem getting insurance for
> powered LSA so I don't see why it would be a problem for gliders.
>
> The FAA prescribes who and what training is required.  Here is a list of
> people who should be able to answer most of the training and endorsement
> questions.http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/sport_p...
>
> Waynehttp://tinyurl.com/N990-6F
>
> <twocoolglid...@juno.com> wrote in message

>
> news:938def60-fb36-4b42...@j25g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I've just had a second light sport pilot airplane, ask me about
> > getting the endorsement for light sport pilot glider.
>
> > What's the deal here?
>
> > Has anybody actually done this?  Are there any glider instructors out
> > there who would do this sign off...any instructors who would do the
> > check ride?
>
> > Any commercial operators who whould rent gliders to a LSA glider
> > pilot?
>
> > How about insurance?
>
> > Do gliders even qualify as LSA?
>
> > Any clubs which allow members to fly on light sport pilot glider
> > certificate??
>
> > Cookie- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Sorry for the too many questions....

But nobody answered the questions I really wanted answers to....

So to simplify...

Are there any instructors out there signing off people as Light sport
pilot glider?

What are the advantages to someone becoming a light sport pilot glider
over becoming a private pilot glider?

The reason I am asking is I have had two guys in the last year want to
"add on" a glider endorsement to a light sport pilot airplane
rating......I tried to talk them into private pilot glider because I
see no advantage in light sport glider...and lots of limitations....

Both guys went away mad at me.....

Cookie

Peter Smith

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Apr 18, 2011, 7:32:02 PM4/18/11
to
On Apr 18, 11:56 am, kd6veb <kd6...@gmail.com> wrote:
...and you're volunteering to step up and help the SSA serve the
soaring community better, right?

T

unread,
Apr 18, 2011, 8:42:13 PM4/18/11
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On Apr 17, 8:32 pm, "twocoolglid...@juno.com"
There are not many gliders that qualify for the LIght Sport pilot. I
think the SGS 1-26 is one.
There are more limitations than advantages, especially out west, east
coast operations may allow more opportunities.
As mentioned, 10K MSL is one, long distances between safe land out
areas with low performance gliders is another, in many areas, you need
to get above 10K MSL to make the transition.

I do not know of any commercial operation renting gliders that qualify
for Light Sport, most that rent want higher performance. An insurance
rep would have to speak up about limitations, but I would guess that
most policies on rentals require Private rating or higher.

We have had no individuals approach our club about LSA endorsements.

kd6veb

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Apr 18, 2011, 9:03:37 PM4/18/11
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Hi Cookie
Here are some comments(not necessarily answers to your questions):

1) The only reason to get a SLA glider ticket (actually an
endorsement) is that it is easier to obtain than a regular glider
ticket if you already have a power plane LSA license. However I would
recommend always getting a regular glider license so you are not
limited by the 10,000 feet msl or 2,000 feet agl LSA rules.
2) If you have a regular glider license you may fly a LSA glider as
though it were a regular glider except for exceeding the placarded VNE
limit which most likely would be 120 knots.
3) The only benefit of certifying a glider (motorglider) as a LSA is
that it is very easy to do and does not cost much. My Phoenix
motorglider is being certified as a LSA for these reasons.

OK an example of what's possible - Certifying a ASK29 as a LSA.
You ask the manufacturer of the ASK29 to make 2 small placard changes.
Firstly the max gross weight would have to be changed from 1323 lbs to
the legal LSA limit of 1320 llbs and secondly get the placarded VNE to
be reduced to 120 knots from 146 knots. Done!

You have to keep a sense of humor when you discuss LSA glider rules
and regs. Don't attempt to apply reason. You will not succeed.
Dave

bildan

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Apr 18, 2011, 9:55:16 PM4/18/11
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On Apr 18, 5:18 pm, "twocoolglid...@juno.com"

I think there is no rational reason to become a light sport glider
pilot. I would explain it this way.

For a glider pilot, altitude is like gas in the tank - it's what you
use to go somewhere. The 10,000 foot limit is like artificially - and
severely - limiting the amount of gas an airplane can carry. For a
very small additional investment in training, that restriction is
removed by getting the PP-G rating.

Then, with a PP-G, the Light Sport Glider looks a lot more
interesting. You still have the 120 knot limit but for many lower
cost/performance gliders, that's a non-issue since you won't want to
go that fast anyway. Certification costs should be much lower.

Although the regs are confusing, it helps to keep LSG pilot
restrictions separate from LS glider restrictions which are
essentially only the 120 knot and 1320 Lb limits.

gregg...@gmail.com

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Apr 18, 2011, 10:42:15 PM4/18/11
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The 10K altitude limit is not an issue for most of the country. Just
because we had to jump through hoops X,Y, and V to get a license
doesn't mean everyone should have to jump through hoops X,Y, and V.
Other satisfactorily hoop jumping options exist. If people are aware
of the limitations and still want the SP-G why should we care?
Wouldn't it be better to make a new glider pilot and then upsell to
PP(if needed) after they have drunk the soaring cool aid?

twocool...@juno.com

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Apr 19, 2011, 7:09:09 AM4/19/11
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On Apr 18, 10:42 pm, "greggbal...@gmail.com" <greggbal...@gmail.com>
wrote:

The guys who came to me with the sport pilot airplane rating seem to
be under the impression that it would be like 3 flights with and
instructor, two solos, then a check ride and good to go......

I tell them that the "program" would be exactly the same as transition
pilot......expect 20 or more dual flights, and 20 or ore
solos.....with these particular guys it would probably be a lot
more......

I figured it was better to "level " with them up front, and recommend
the private glider, and have them go away mad, then to do a lot of
flights with them and hv e them go away really mad....

Anyway....I am going to continue to not teach private, and not teach
or endorse sport pilot glider, for the reasons given in some of
these posts. The only reason for sport pilot gider I can see is to
try to save money....but if a guy is looking to save say $300 in
training and testing...he isn't able to afford the sport, which costs
$50 a tow, or $5k to $100k for his own glider, or $60 hour for rental
or $800 a year for a club plus tows etc....

Cookie

Cookie

flymaule

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Apr 19, 2011, 4:51:40 PM4/19/11
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Every CFIG is a Light Sport Instructor by definition. You could
endorse a LSA power pilot for gliders in a 2-33, but there is one big
reason I am not interested at this point. Add-on ratings in the LSA
world require only an appropriately rated instructor to sign-off, and
then a different instructor to fly with and endorse. Please note I
said instructor--not DPE. This means that the 2 instructors basically
issue the certificate--and assume the liability. On the other hand an
initial LSA license--power, glider, etc--requires you to send the
student to a DPE. He/she issues the certificate and the FAA has much
of the liability.

Skip Guimond

twocool...@juno.com

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Apr 19, 2011, 7:20:32 PM4/19/11
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Skip...Good points....all the more reason I'm not going to deal with
Light Sport Glider

Cookie

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