Start here if you are a Private Pilot student learning to fly a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) with Sport Aviation Center. I’ve answered many of the questions you may have.

The first question most ask about getting a Private Pilot certificate is:

Can you learn and take a checkride in a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)? Yes.

All hours in a Light Sport Aircraft can be used for Private Pilot, instrument training, Commercial, and an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.

Yes you can take your Private pilot checkride in a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). Pilots have been training for private in Light Sport Aircraft for over 50 years in the classic Piper Cub, Taylorcraft, etc. The modern Light Sport Aircraft is no different than the classic/vintage LSA.

Step 1. Get a Student Pilot Training Kit and start self-studying

The more you can study on your own, the faster you will learn and the less it will cost you overall.

The Private Pilot Student Course, Airplane LSA or Private Pilot Student Course, WSC LSA Trike can be purchased at www.pilot-stores.com.

Some students want to study before they start flight lessons. While others want to start flying first. If you want to start flying first jump to Step 2 below

In the On-Line training course

• In the On-Line training course, simply start at the beginning and continue on through each lesson in order. The start covers the sport pilot requirements. The private pilot is similar; only more hours of training plus you can fly over 10,000 feet MSL (or above 2000 feet above ground level, CAN fly at night and must fly into and be familiar with larger towered airports.

In the paper Training Syllabus: Start at Flight & Ground Lesson #2

• In the Training Syllabus and Workbook start with Flight Lesson 2 on Page 12. Complete the assignment for the second flight lesson by reading the book material and watching the DVD’s as specified.

• In the Training Syllabus and Workbook, Ground  Lesson 2 on Page 13, complete the assignment for the ground lesson by reading the book material and using the Prepware CD as specified. Take a look at all of the terms in the lesson and make certain you understand each one. You can always research them in the study materials.

Continue through all the flight & ground lessons in order

Simply follow through the training syllabus flight and ground lessons.

• This is the full self-study course if you do all the flight and ground lesson assignments before you start flight training. It is best to complete all the flight and ground lesson assignments before you start your flight lessons but this is not mandatory.

• You can do the flight and ground lessons along with your flight training but the more you can study ahead of time on your own the better off you will be.

Notes on the FAA Knowledge Test Preparation & testing:

• The private pilot test questions are built into the Prepware. For the on line course, you download the Prepware that has all the updated questions. Choose the Private pilot options.
• For the paper version, load and activate the blue private pilot Prepware CD and choose the private pilot option for studying/testing when using the CD and paper book.
• You can study and complete the FAA Knowledge Test on your own with the down loadable Prepware (Paper version has Prepware CD and Test Prep paper book). With the Prepware, you practice and study with the study modules until you are somewhat proficient with the questions and answers. You then start taking the practice knowledge tests. It does not hurt to take the practice test and score low at first. This does not count against you in any way.  Once you get an 80% twice you e-mail those into ASA from the Prepware performance section and they will send you your CFI endorsement to take the FAA knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center.

• The FAA Knowledge must be completed before the Checkride. However, you may complete it any time you want before the checkride. Some like to get it out of the way early in the training process, others like to wait until you have been through all the training before you take it. This up to you when you take the FAA Knowledge Test.

• Overall, the knowledge test is pretty easy, we give you a sampling of all the questions and the answers. You can memorize them and pass the knowledge test. However, this is not the best way to do it. It is best if you learn the material which you have to anyway to pass the checkride.

• They do sneak in some oddball questions or sometimes you get nonapplicable questions but do not worry. Typically you score 10 points less than what you typically get with the Prepware practice tests so I recommend you constantly score 90% to make sure you pass with a 70%. This was worked for hundreds over the years is a guarantee to passing the test.

Notes on how, when and why to apply for a student pilot certificate:

• A new process was enacted by the FAA under the direction of TSA to apply for a student pilot certificate starting early 2016. There is now NO immediate issuance of the student pilot certificate as there was in the past before early 2016. This has caused some big hassles/delays for student pilots to solo.

• Now, the applicant goes through a background check with TSA before the FAA can issue a student pilot certificate. This student pilot certificate is the same for Sport/Private. No difference. Same student certificate for sport, private, airplane, weight-shift control trike, PPC, gyrocopter, etc …….

• Once it is submitted to the FAA via IARCA it takes about one to two weeks week to get an email temporary student certificate and about three weeks for the green plastic student pilot certificate to arrive in the mail to the applicant after the student pilot certificate has been applied for. Takes longer if you use paper. If a student does not have any US pilot certificate, they need this student pilot certificate to solo.

• If the student is participating in an accelerated course, solo could be one to two weeks after the student starts flight training. Therefore, it is important for the student pilot certificate to be applied for AT LEAST two weeks before solo is anticipated.

Guidance for student pilot certificate application:

• Student/applicant go to the FAA IACRA web site and set up account https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/
  • Top right – click register
  • Top – click Applicant box
  • Read terms of service – click agree at bottom and you will come to the IACRA User Profile Information screen.
  • If you do not have any FAA certificate (which you probably do not), skip the top section asking for pilot certificate number and start filling out your information.
  • Under SSN click “Do Not Use”
  • Create your user name and password. Mark these down in an important place – click register. Now you have registered with the FAA which will be your pilot certification account for your complete flying career.
• After you have registered, you must log in and apply for a “pilot certificate”.
  • Choose student
  • You will receive an FTN number. Again, write this important number down in an important place with your user name and password.
• Get your student pilot application approved and submitted
  • Once you have applied for the student pilot certificate you need to see some sort of FAA official to get your application approved. This can be the local CFI (FAA flight instructor) at any local flight school. They do not have to be sport pilot specific, they do the same for private pilots. There is no difference. ANY CFI/Flight Instructor can do this for you. There may be a fee for this service.
  • You can also use the local FAA FSDO office and they will do it for free. Some FAA FSDO offices may be more willing to take the time to do this than others depending on their workload. See  https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ to locate your nearest FSDO office.
• Once this has been submitted by the approving FAA representative, a green plastic student pilot card/certificate will come to in the mail in about 3 weeks unless there is some sort of problem which you should be notified.

Step 2. Schedule your flight training

There are a number of options for scheduling flight training which we will cover here. Overall, it is best to schedule your flight training as far ahead as possible for the best time slots early in the morning. Scheduling is first come first served.

What is the best training schedule?

• Best training schedule is flying every other day. This allows you to absorb what you have learned plus review what you have done and study what is the next flight and ground lessons. This will work fine if you are local but if you are coming in for an accelerated course, we typically fly every day. to get it done in the shortest time possible.

• If you are coming in from out of town and trying to get the course done as soon as possible, we fly every day (weather permitting) so you are spending as little total time here as possible. In this case, it is best to complete as much ground school ahead of time as you can. Best to show up with your knowledge test completed.

What is the best time of year for flight training?

• Late fall, winter through early spring. This is the least busy and you can fly much later in the day. During the summer it gets bumpy around 10:00 in the morning so you want to be done flying the airplane by 12:00 noon at the latest and finish flying the trike by 11:00 AM the latest. In the late fall  (October), winter and early spring (April) with nice weather, you can fly all day. The late fall/winter/early spring is best all-around to get the most flight time.

How long will it take and how much will it cost?

There are so many variables to consider when answering this question.

• Simple answer: it can take as little as 2-3 weeks and as long as 2 years. It can cost as little as $8,000 and as much as $25,000.

• If you are young and motivated to study on your own the time/cost will be low. If you are older and/or not motivated and/or understand the concepts the time/cost will be longer/higher. Simple. When someone asks me this question I really have no idea but at least we have a range. This all depends on the student. Here is a detailed breakdown of “Pilot Training Time and Cost” for airplane and trike.

Please let me know of any additional questions you have.

Got questions?

Contact Paul Hamilton