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The April meeting was held at the
old Bowdoin School in Bowdoin and consisted of a seminar
on Light Sport Aviation conducted by Dave Pepple.
President Charlie Gabelmann presented Mr. Pepple
at 1900 to start the seminar, with about 25 in
attendance. Bill
Gianetta from the FAA, and Randy Autry, a designated
examiner, assisted Mr. Pepple.
Some details of the seminar follow:
1.
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA)
a)
Max gross weight – 1,320 pounds, or 1,430
pounds for seaplanes
b) Max
speed in level flight – 120 knots.
c) Single
or two-seat only.
d) Single
engine with fixed or ground adjustable propeller.
e) Unpressurized cabin.
f) Fixed gear except for aircraft operated solely on
water.
g) Can be manufactured and sold ready to fly as a
Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA).
h) Can be licensed as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft
(E-LSA) if kit or plans built.
i) Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate
that meet above specifications may be flown by a sport
pilot. The
aircraft must meet the specifications as originally
built. The
aircraft remains in the standard category and can’t be
changed to light sport.
j) Aircraft can be operated at night and IFR if properly
equipped, but only if the pilot holds at least a private
pilot certificate, and a minimum of a third class
medical.
2.
LIGHT SPORT PILOT
a) Can operate a light
sport aircraft with a Light Sport Pilot certificate or a
certificate as private pilot or better.
b) No FAA medical is required, but a valid drivers
license is required.
Pilots currently holding a private pilot
certificate or better, can operate as a sport pilot
using a valid drivers license, provided their most
recent medical application has not been denied, revoked,
suspended, or withdrawn.
Any limitation listed on the driver’s license
applies while flying.
Pilots must self qualify as to medical fitness for
flights. For
those cases where a sport pilot later experiences a
medical disqualifying condition to drive (and fly), and
contacts a physician, the pilot may return to flight
status once the condition clears without any
notification to the FAA. Mr. Pepple did suggest it would be prudent for pilots to
obtain written authorization from a physician to resume
driving.
c) Can carry only one passenger, and can’t carry
passengers for compensation or hire, or do flights for
business.
d) Can share operating costs.
FAA defines sharing as the pilot pays ½.
e) Can operate only in daytime, and only VFR.
3 Statute mile visibility and visual contact with
the ground is required.
Maximum altitude is 10,000 feet msl.
f) Can fly into class B, C, and D airspace with
endorsements. Private
pilots already qualify.
3. LIGHT
SPORT AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
a) Inspection Rating—Attend a 16 hour course on the
inspection of your particular LSA.
This rating allows you to conduct the annual
inspection on your own E-LSA.
b) Maintenance Rating—Attend a 120 hour course on the
maintenance requirements of various LSA.
This rating allows you to perform the annual
condition inspection on S-LSA’s
and E-LSA’s for compensation.
The repairs and maintenance allowable are
specifically authorized in the manufacturer’s
maintenance manual.
4. GENERAL
ISSUES
Randy Autry is a designated examiner working with
powered parachutes. He has an open channel to the FAA and offered to help with
any member with a problem.
If he did contact the FAA, the problem could be
discussed with no specific individual named.
In a related issue, Dave Pepple advised it is much
easier to resolve an issue if an individual brings it
forward, as opposed to the FAA coming to the individual.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The seminar was adjourned at 2130
hours
MAY MEETING
The May meeting will be held at
Phil Shelton’s barn in Georgetown where we will get a
look at Phil’s Tundra floatplane from Dream Aircraft.
A link to the Tundra project is available on
Phil’s web site www.worldvoyagers.com.
The meeting will start at 1900
hours on Tuesday May 12, 2009.
Phil’s address is 133 Williams Road,
Georgetown. Phone
contact is 371-2733.
General Directions----From Hwy 1 in
Woolwich, take 127 South toward Reid State Park and
Georgetown. In
about 8.5 miles, turn right on Bay Point Road (just past
Fire Station). In
0.3 miles, turn right on West Georgetown Road.
Keep to the right at forks in the road, and in
about 1.2 miles, turn right onto Williams road.
Phil’s is number 133 on your right.
Detailed directions can be found in the May
Newsletter. |
