Easy Flight - Becoming a Sport Pilot Powered Parachute

The good news is that flying is a powered parachute is far simpler than flying most anything else in the world. The FAA requirements to become a licensed powered parachute pilot reflect that. Those wanting to become licensed in other aircraft have to spend more time gaining flying experience and have to do more to demonstrate proficiency in their respective aircraft than you will as a powered parachute sport pilot applicant.

Step 2. Gain the necessary knowledge.

There are a couple of ways to get the knowledge needed to become a sport pilot. If you are the home study kind of guy or gal, ASA offers a couple of great products to prepare you for the 'knowledge test' that the FAA requires you take if you don't already have any other ratings. What you are looking for is either the Sport Pilot Test Prep Book or the Sport Pilot Test Prepware for your computer.

Another way to get training is to attend a sport pilot ground school. The advantages to a ground school are many. First, a ground school prepares you for more than just the knowledge test. It also provides you with the necessary knowledge need to pass the practical test that you will also need to complete. Even more important, a good ground school will also provide you with good, practical knowledge that will keep you safe and legal throughout your flying experiences. One of the best ground schools available is offered by Jim Sweeney of SweeneyCorp. You can travel to one of his prearranged training sites or you can arrange for him to travel to your location if you have enough other students available. Another alternative is to attend a local airplane pilot ground school. Much of the content is the same and a good instructor should be able to refer you to reasources to complete the missing powered parachute and sport pilot portions in his program.

Step 3. Get your flying experience and prepare for your check ride.

In order to become a sport pilot (assuming you don't already hold an FAA rating already) you will have to gain a certain amount of aeronautical experience working with a flight instructor. In the Federal Aviation Regulations, §61.313(g), the FAA requires that in order for you to be able to apply for a sport pilot license in powered parachutes you must:

Log at least 12 hours of flight time in a powered parachute

Including at least 10 hours dual flight training

Including at least 2 hours of solo flight training

Including at least 1 hour of cross-country dual flight training

Including at least 3 hours of dual flight training preparing for the practical test within 60 days before the date of the practical test

Log at least 20 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in a powered parachute
- Including at least 10 solo takeoffs and landing to a full stop in a powered parachute
Log at least one solo flight with a landing at a different airport and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 10 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations

Normally, this training needs to take place in an N-numbered machine with a Certified Flight Instructor specializing in powered parachutes. However, until January 31, 2008, this training can be accomplished by an ultralight instructor with ASC, EAA, or USUA as long as:

The student receives the training after becoming a student in the ASC, EAA, or USUA ultralight training programs.
The instructor is an Ultralight Flight Instructor in good standing with the organization
The training is conducted in a two seat ultralight trainer.
In some cases, the student may have to pass the ultralight organization's requirements to become an ultralight pilot with that organization
The student has to acquire a letter from the ultralight organization which acts as, "a certified copy of your ultralight pilot records from an FAA-recognized ultralight organization, and those records must-
- Document that you are a registered ultralight pilot with that FAA-recognized ultralight organization, and
- Indicate that you are recognized to operate the category and class of aircraft (powered parachutes) for which you seek sport pilot privileges"

This means that you CAN get training from a BFI or UFI, however paperwork and logging requirements must be met AND you still have to get a recommendation from a CFI-Powered Parachutes who will fill out the proper paperwork. This part of the process helps assure that you are ready for your check ride. Your instructor should be familiar with the practical test standard and be ready to train you in the areas that you will need to know to pass your check ride.

Step 4. Take your check ride and get your license.

Your instructor should know when you are ready to take your check ride. When you are, he will make the proper endorsements in your log book and help you fill out your FAA Form 8710-11. At that point you will be ready and able to take your practical test and get your license for sport pilot. For more information on preparing for and passing your flight test, visit Preparing for a Powered Parachute Practical Exam.

I hope that this guide helps you to get prepared for your sport pilot powered parachute rating. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by either E-mail or telephone!

Roy Beisswenger
roy@easyflight.com
(618) 664-9706

2000 World Champion pilot, Eddie Johnson, taxis to the edge of the field in his Powrachute after providing a tandem flight at Sun 'n Fun.

For More Information

Roy Beisswenger
PO Box 38
Greenville, IL 62246

(618) 664-9706

• E-mail Roy •