Ryan,
I hope the sport thing takes off as well. There are alot of naysayers
that will do whatever they can to throw a monkey wrench into it all for
everyone. Like most "new" things done by any government agency there are
quirks that have to be worked out. One I am working on is the Catch 22 of
the 87 knot endorsement.
One rule says a sport pilot may train in single engine plane , even if
it is not light sport category, but must solo and take a check ride in the
light sport aircraft. The 87 knot endorsement requirement states a
certificated sport pilot may train and get an endorsement in a plane that
cruises over the 87 knots. Hmmm if you already have time training in a
Cherokee as a student why can't you get the 87 knot endorsement? The
training is the same...just one of those tricky little wording things that I
would guess got messed up by someone along the way.
As the FAA guy told me," Welcome to the FAR's" I sure wish I could
have made it up to the big event at OSH but driving was out of the question
for me. I would have loved seeing the sport planes. Fill us in if you
would!?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech
wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm just back from OSH late last night as well. Had a good time, got
totally sunburned and enjoyed the show. A couple of questions came up,
and everyone I asked seemed to have a different opinion (which happens
when you don't have the FAR/AIM books at hand out on the Flight
line)....
1. I thought the LSA "mall" was a great idea at show center. My first
plane was an Ercoupe, and even thought I've moved "up" to a 172, the
LSA type airplanes are really pretty cool. What I've been trying to
figure out is this new LSA instructor thing. Can one really just take
the "fundamentals of instruction" (FOI) test and then the written for
the LSA instructor (and then the practical)? Without getting a
commercial and then insturment, like a traditional CFI?
2. I was oogling the new Czech "Mermaid" amphibian as well. My wife was
keen on that idea. Now with this, is there going to be a seperate
LSA-single engine seaplane rating (LSA-seaplane???)? If one already has
PP-SEL, does one just add SES on to it and then be qualified to fly the
thing?

I'm already a relatively active pilot, but I truly hope this LSA thing
really takes off and we start seeing these planes out at the FBO's!

Ryan
Madison, WI