What if I’m already a pilot (with or without a medical certificate)?
Let’s start our discussion with the case of current pilots (Private, Commercial, ATP). As a rated pilot you are legal to climb into any LSA of the same category and class for which you are already rated. As a Private Pilot (or higher) with a Single Engine Land rating you are legal to fly any LSA of the same category. Likewise, with a Single Engine Sea rating, you are legal to fly the seaplane LSAs.
As long as you keep your medical current, you are NOT limited by the Sport Pilot limitations. In fact, as long as the aircraft is properly equipped and certified, an Instrument rated pilot may legally fly an LSA into IMC. Again, with the proper equipment, an LSA may be flown at night by a Private Pilot (or higher).
With an expired medical, a Private Pilot (or higher) may legally fly any appropriate LSA under the Sport Pilot rules and limitations without any additional training requirements.
In all cases, it is advisable to acquire the appropriate level of transition training any time you fly an unfamiliar aircraft. Although Sport Planes are designed to be easy to fly, they each have their unique flight characteristics and proper training is imperative.
Now that I am legal to fly, what can I do or not do? As a licensed Sport Pilot, you are legal to act as Pilot in Command (PIC) of a Light Sport Aircraft. You may share the operating expenses of a flight with a passenger, but you are required to pay at least half of those expenses. You can fly anywhere in the United States during daylight hours. You can carry one passenger if you choose, and fly up to 10,000 feet above sea level as long as the clouds don’t obstruct your view of the ground. In general, the Sport Pilot rule allows you all of the freedom and privileges that most Private Pilots enjoy. One of the most obvious restrictions of a Sport Pilot is flying at night. But the reality is that most Private Pilots do not fly at night even though they are legal to do so. |
