Blog and Ask The Expert Paul Hamilton
About The Blog
This blog provides up to date information on new developments and the most popular subjects for pilots flying LSA. See these blog topics at the left.
In addition, we actively seek and respond to feedback on areas of interest at beasportpilot.com to answer your questions, educate or entertain you, explore the nature of pilot development, and much more on becoming a sport pilot and flying light-sport aircraft (LSA). The comments on this blog are moderated, which means that before any comments or questions are posted, they are reviewed by me.
If you have a comment or question about one of the topics I’ve written about, you may leave it at the bottom of the particular topic post. You may also ask any relevant question about flying LSA below.
Check out the other Ask The Expert blogs:
Look forward to your questions and comments!
Paul Hamilton
Comment Posting Guidelines
This blog is intended to be a place to answer your questions, educate or entertain you, explore the nature of pilot development, and much more on becoming a sport pilot and flying light-sport aircraft (LSA).
This blog is not intended to be a direct line of communication with Paul Hamilton on things not related to beasportpilot.com. This is a heads up that all comments will be moderated and won’t be posted if they don’t meet the following guidelines.
- Please stay on-topic.
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How to Make A Comment on Our Blog
Below every post is a Comments or No Comment link. Click on that Link, then at the bottom of the page, below “Leave A Reply”, enter your comment and data, then click the Submit Comment button and you’re done!
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:06 am
Mr. Hamilton, I live in Maine and cannot seem to locate a training instructor or school to learn to fly a PPC and take a course. The closest I am seeing on the maps is in Albany, New York which is not possible for me. We see many flying around here. It has been a dream of mine to fly on my own in a PPC. I have taken flights as a passenger in a PPC in Phillips, Maine before the September 11 attacks when there were no requirements. Loved it! I used to have dreams of flying and want to fulfill this need. Your website is very informative. Thank you. Monique
September 25th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Monique,
Yes it is difficult to find a PPC instructor near by. You may have to travel to find one. Use the sport pilot locator map in the top right to find the nearest you or consider traveling, a vacation to do it all in one shot.
many also consider the trike as an alternative to PPC.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Paul,
Thank you for the informative videos you have posted on YouTube. I am very interested in being a trike pilot, but want to know where I would be allowed to fly in Southern California. I believe you are from So Cal and would know this answer. I live in the San Dimas area (bordering the 10, 57 and 210 freeways), but would like to know the closest areas I can fly in…without driving to the desert if possible. I live close to a couple of small, local airports, but know a sport pilot needs radio/control tower training to use them. I’m interested either: 1) flying as a sport pilot or 2) as a Part 103 pilot. Where could I fly (close by) for either of these categories?
Also, in your opinion, where in So Cal is “the best” place to fly? I’ve got lots of questions, but will limit myself to these for now!
Thank you for your time.
Gary Wright
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:42 am
Gary, As a trike sport pilot, you can fly into and out all towered control airports with an Airspace endorsement (except the largest such as LAX). It is really no different than a regular airplane. However, an “ultralight vehicle” as the FAA calls them can not fly into or out of controlled airports and is very limited.
The best place to fly depends on what you want to see or where you want to go
September 20th, 2011 at 10:08 am
I live near Buchanon airfield in Concord, Ca., and I am having difficulty finding instructors and/or schools for light sport aircraft certification. Do you know or anyone nearby (also, oakland and hayward are near) that you would recommend as a place to earn this license? Thanks, Bill
September 22nd, 2011 at 5:29 am
Bill,
I have the instructors and schools up on the Sport Pilot Locator in the upper right hand side of this web site. Many times there is not a qualified instructor near by so traveling might be your best resource to learn.
September 26th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Hi , Have taken & passed S.P. Knowledge Exam. Thought I was supposed to get Logbook End. Guy testing said no . I don’t a piece of paper or anything proving I have completed this portion of training ..Is this correct ??
September 30th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
If you take and pass the sport pilot knowledge exam at the FAA testing facility they give you a certified copy on the spot. If you took it with the ASA Prepware, you have to pass it two times and than go to the Performance tab to e mail your results in. They will e mail you back your endorsement allowing you to take the knowledge test at the FAA testing facility. If you have any further questions please call me personally at 775 772 8232 and I can help you sort this out.