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
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
news:938def60-fb36-4b42...@j25g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
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
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.
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
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.
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
Skip Guimond
Skip...Good points....all the more reason I'm not going to deal with
Light Sport Glider
Cookie