Larry wrote:

Why is the FAA so supportive of this class of flying? Older pilots?
passenger allowed? more skill required in bad weather? less reliable
powerplants? no FAA medical exam? Less stringent certification of LSA?
I can only surmise that the FAA, EAA and MAYBE a need for grooming
future military pilots (where ever they go) endorse this effort. I am
only concerned about safety and why we even consider this class of
flying. Freedom yes but the FAA/EAA says "become a pilot faster,
easier, and cheaper than ever before". This scares me and I worry about
safety. Maybe I am wrong in my thinking.

I can't pretend to speak for the FFA, but I
can speak for myself as a LSA student and
future LSA plane owner (Flight Design CT-SW,
March delivery).

I've wanted to fly all my life, but it never
made sense until the light sport class happened.
The combination of performance, cost of operation
and sheer fun makes it possible with LSA. For
little more than the price of a high-end German
road car you can buy a *new* light sport plane,
cruise at 120 knots and get 30 miles to the gallon
on mogas. And look forward to annual inspections
for around $500 instead of $5000.

As to the training, as long as a pilot flys within
the limitations of the license class, I don't see
why it should be any less safe than a PP license.

I'm 54 years old. I could pass the 3rd class
physical easy this year, but what about the future?
I *don't* want to fly at night, knowing how bad
my night vision can be. Why train on it? I *don't*
want to fly in weather, so why not limit the
training to avoiding weather? My plane will
not have VOR, RNAV, ADF, DME, etc, etc, so why
train on that? I will have 2 gps receivers and
current charts, and I'm taking my pilotage training
very seriously. All I've ever wanted to be is
a fair-weather pilot.

The 20 hour instruction requirement is, just
like a PPL, a minimum. The instructor and the
examiner won't sign you off unless you are
competent. Get rid of all the non-applicable
stuff and a 20 minimum makes sense without
sacrificing basic pilot competence.

Did I mention that LSA planes are an absolute
blast to fly? They are. Call up a dealer
and take a familiarization flight. I'm training
on a SportStar and, as I said, have a CTSW on
order. Try either one and get back to me.