Sport Pilot, Light-Sport Rule: Kansas Instructors

Rans S-7
Rans S-7

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued on July 20, 2004, new certification requirements for light-sport aircraft, pilots and repairmen that will make recreational flying safer while keeping it affordable and fun.

The FAA created two new aircraft airworthiness certificates: one for special light-sport aircraft, which may be used for personal as well as for compensation while conducting flight training, rental or towing; and a separate certificate for experimental light-sport aircraft, which may be used only for personal use. The rule also establishes requirements for maintenance, inspections, pilot training and certification.

The FAA worked with the general aviation community to create the final rule that sets safety standards for the over 15,000 people who will now earn FAA certificates to operate more than 15,000 existing uncertificated ultralight-like aircraft. Another 12,000 pilots and new aircraft will be certificated over the next 8 to 10 years.

Because the new rules will help keep recreational flying affordable, the agency expects the return of thousands of pilots who left aviation because of high costs. The rule’s safety requirements should also give this segment of the general aviation community better access to insurance, financing, and airports.

Said Marion C. Blakey, FAA Administrator, “We want to make aviation safe and affordable for recreational pilots.” This sport pilot, light-sport aircraft rule reduces the barriers to becoming a pilot and an aircraft owner while assuring that safety will always be the priority.

For an Aviation Feature article on how you might get your “Sport Pilot License in a Week?,” visit www.wingsoverkansas.com/features/article.asp?id=522.

For Kansas based pilots, a number of certified FAA Flight Instructors from the EAA Database are listed here for your convenience as follows:

  1. Don Tevis with Tevis Aviation,Inc in Emporia, Kansas. The Category and Class of Instruction given are: Airplane Land, Powered Parachute Land, Tailwwheel. Aircraft available for use in Instruction is the Destiny XLT. Dan can be reached at 620-342-3598. His e-mail is [email protected].
  2. Morris Yoder with Skyview Powered Parachute in Hutchinson, Kansas. The Category and Class of Instruction given is Powered Parachute Land. Aircraft available are the Powrachute/Pegasus 912S. Morris can be reached at 620-662-5507. His e-mail is [email protected].
  3. Andrew Smith with Kansas State University at Salina, Kansas. The Category and Class of Instruction given is Airplane Land, Tailwheel. Aircraft available is the RANS S6S. Andrew can be reached at 785-826-2682. His e-mail is [email protected].
  4. Herman C. Belderok in St. Mary’s, Kansas. The Category and Class of Instruction given is Airplane Land, Tailwheel. Aircraft available is the Taylorcraft BC-12D. Herman can be reached at 785-437-3077. His e-mail is [email protected].
  5. Anthony (Tony) Johnstone with Knife Edge LLC in Winfield, Kansas. The Category and Class of Instruction given is Airplane Land, Airplane Sea, Tailwheel. Aircraft available is the Aeronca 7AC Champ. Tony can be reached at 620-221-1381. His e-mail is [email protected].

For other State listings, please visit www.sportpilot.org/instructors.