The US Sport Pilot initiative seems like it will be
fully approved in less than another year.
I wonder if Sport Pilots will be insurable in the US?
By happy coincidence, Jane and Dennis both seem
to be strong supporters, so I hope they
can help with the final problem (which has also
thwarted ultralights) of insurance.

Jane Garvey (head of US air regulations) supports the
Sport Pilot initiative, which would allow much looser
requirements for pilots and instructors transitioning from
power to simple gliders (such as the 2-33 or 1-26).

Dennis Wright (the US soaring association guy) agrees
US soaring is over-regulated and overly complex. See his
Dec 2003 Soaring editorial. "Remember 'safety' and
'fun' are not mutually exclusive". He strongly supports
sport pilot.

But in the US, the insurer has the veto power. Will
Sport Pilot, Jane, and Dennis be able to convince
insurers to cover this kind of flying?

There are more than 22 glider operations in California
(including Reno and half of them have 2-33s and/or 1-26s.
These operations have the potential to market to
over 600,000 current pilots with a new product:
a sport pilot glider license.

With no cumbersome and expensive FAA practical test,
the sport pilot transition requires a mere glider
instructor sign-off. Then the new sport pilot
can take a passenger (spouse, kids, parents, friends)
on lovely and quiet sunset flights in the 2-33...

And there is a large pool of instructors who can
also become sport glider instructors with no FAA
practical test, just requiring two sign-offs.
Potentially they can instruct at these clubs too.

Well...if the insurer agrees. Hopefully the
fact there hasn't been a US 2-33 fatality in 25 years
will help show the simplicity and built in safety of
that aircraft at least.

How have those in other countries fared? Do
you have lower level licenses for less performing
aircraft? Do you have issues finding insurance?
Have your licensing requirements "evolved" over time?
For example, in the US power pilots used to not
need IFR, night, or radio training. Our sport pilot
initiative is an attempt to get back to the simpler
standard by allowing only simple aircraft. Have
you had similar initiatives to reduce these slowly
rising barriers to pilot entry?