It is still, at times, unbelievable that 122 years ago, the modern airplane was created. From the most primitive wood and fabric to modern aluminum and jet fuel, aircraft have evolved by leaps and bounds. For almost as long as aircraft have existed, there has been the requirement of having a license to fly them. This is one of the biggest inhibitors to flying, as earning a private pilots license (PPL) is a costly venture.
However, there are other, more cost-effective ways to earn a license, with one option being a sport pilot license (SPL). On Oct. 22, the sport pilots license will receive a massive overhaul that has been more than 10 years in the making. It is called Sport Pilot 2.0 or MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification). The goal of MOSAIC is to make more aircraft available to existing sport pilots and to lower the costs for aspiring pilots.
Why would someone pursue a sport pilot license over a private pilot license? To start with a comparison, it would cost $6,000-$20,000, around 50-70 hours of flight time and numerous hours of studying, which adds up to a 3-8 month process on average to earn a private pilot license.
It takes half the resources to earn a sport pilot license. The main costs of earning a license are the cost of renting an aircraft, instruction, flight gear and exams. This license only requires 20 flight hours, greatly reducing the cost overall. In total, one could earn a sport pilots license in under 2-3 months; 5 weeks at the quickest. A shared benefit of either pilot license is that they never actually expire. Recertification would be necessary after a certain period of inactivity, but it wouldn’t have to be renewed as with a driver’s license.
So, what’s the catch? How could someone fly a plane in less than half the time, cost and flight time? There are limitations as a result of the relaxed requirements. As stated by the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), sport pilots must not:
● Fly in Class A airspace.
● Fly in Class B, C, or D airspace until they receive training and a logbook endorsement from an instructor.
● Fly outside the U.S. without prior permission from the foreign aviation authority.
● Tow any object.
● Fly while carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire.
● Fly in furtherance of a business.
For those unfamiliar with airspaces, Class A is 18,000 ft MSL (Mean Sea Level) and Class B, C and D airspaces are airports where there is a control tower which requires communication to operate in that airspace or request landing clearance.
Still, these restrictions would not prevent potential pilots from flying where they want to go, other than potentially being forced to change their course slightly to avoid larger airports. Some private pilots do this regardless, so it isn’t too harsh a restriction.
Those who are interested in pursuing aviation as a hobby or potentially a career should consider looking into courses that can be taken online or in person to get their sport pilot’s license. It is a great way to begin the journey as a pilot and save a good amount of money in the process of doing so.