The OP question was 100% about money. To paraphrase my answer I said half
the requirement should come to have the cost. I stand by that If it takes
longer to get the PP it will probably take longer to get the SP.

I also added that if a PP was what the OP wanted that there was no reason
NOT to take the check ride for an SP while continuing but if he didn't have
a LSA aircraft to fly there was no reason to either.

As to my response to your post I truly believe that, if PP is your target,
you'd be better off spending the flying time and money on finishing the PP
instead of burning another (as in your example) 60 to 90 hours flying your
friends around. Again, if you are going to get the PP you'll have plenty of
time to do that after you finish the PP and you will be a more experienced
pilot before you start flying your pals.

Now, let me tell you where I'm coming from here. I took two PP check rides.
First from the guy the FAA said could certify me as a pilot. It was a breeze
with 42 logged hours. I literally grew up at the airport and was able to
take-off, navigate and fly and airplane before the state thought I was old
enough to get a learners permit for a car.

The reason for this is I was incredibly lucky to have a Grandfather that
learned to fly before WWII, flew in the war, and, until the day he chose to
hand back his medical when he decided he wasn't capable anymore of safe
flight at age 64, flew as a professional pilot in every thing from Cubs to
Lears. (He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's later that same month).

I was well into elementary school before I figured out everybody didn't fly.
I mean all my neighborhood friends did they flew with my grandfather.

Enough of that, my second check ride was with him. He was well into
Alzheimer's by the time I got my certificate but he was having a good day
and I took him up the day after my check ride. He had me do a couple of
maneuvers and landings. After we got back to the airport he said, practice
this week and we'll do that again but don't fly with any non-pilots until
then. That week turned into a couple because of his health. In that time I
put another 20 hours of practice in. We flew and when we landed he said
that's good, fly like that from now on and you'll be OK.

The point of all this is to say just because the FAA says it don't make it
so. They have a minimum standard. If you go by that standard you will be
just as good a the WORST legal pilot out there. In life and especially
flying you might want to set your standard a little higher than the worst
you can get away with at least if you are going to put somebody else's ass
on the line.

I mentioned I had 42 logged hours when I passed my PP exam. In reality I
probably had 2 or 3 hundred sitting in the right seat with not just my
Grandfather but other very experienced pilots. NOBODY knows how to fly with
less than a couple of hundred hours and maybe not even then. (I know that's
gonna stir some crap up.)

I would hope that those that get the SP are made up of a pilots that for
some nit-picky reason can't get a medical anymore and pilots that will have
the brains to fly alone long after they got the rating alone and really
learn how to fly.



GigG


"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
Gig,
Well I did not mean that everytime you fly you take a passenger with
you, I just meant that you "could" while you were working on the PPL. For
those without alot of money to sink into the PPL at one time, it could be
a great option...they could fly, and though maybe not practicing the PPL
flight manuvers "all the time" they would be gaining valuable experience
in the air.
As for the cost, well I didn't say the process would be cheaper,...just
the flying as a sport pilot versus just staying in a PPL training mode. Do
alittle PPL training here and there as your money allows. May even take
longer in the long run to get the PPL, but who knows you may have 100-150
hours with the training and flying as a sport pilot.
It does stand to reason the more experience in the air you have the better
you will do on the PPL, be it practicing for the PPL checkride or just
flying SP.
The whole thing is really hard to judge as to who could save what as
far as money...we all know that the minimums for training are not the
standard times. I sure do not expect a SPL to be done in the 20 hours!
Well maybe if they are flying those "flying weedeaters" I think it is more
reasonable to think in the 30 hour range. Then you have all the "region"
factors. Like the cost in the Northeast of renting a cub for 80 plus an
hour, versus most around here that rent for 40 ! Just really hard to say
exactly "how much" it will cost everyone, just to many variables.

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"Gig 601XL Builder" wr.giacona@coxDOTnet wrote in message
news:uudue.32666$DC2.27435@okepread01...

"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
The one great thing about getting the sport pilot first is you would be
able to fly , carry a passenger in a light sport plane..and most
important I would think is practice for your PPL. I guess we don't know
for sure yet because no one has done it...but it makes good sense to say
that by obtaining a SPL, and flying, may actually speed up the process
for getting the PPL when you are ready for it. Extra practice sure can't
hurt, and it's alot cheaper to fly by yourself than having a CFI on
board.
There's been many a PPL trained in Cubs and Champs, get your SPL in
one and get a head start!

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech


Again, as I mentioned in my post I have no problem with someone taking
the SP test during the PP process. but don't think for a second it is
going to save you any money.

Your thought that it will allow you to fly passengers while continueing
to train for a PP will, if done, increase the cost of the PP because the
last thing you need in the airplane while practicing for your PP is a
none pilot passenger. Flight time during the PP process should be used
for practice for the test and you shouldn't be doing those manuvers with
a victim.... I mean passenger.

GigG