Accommodation
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Course Details
Contrary to some legacy flight training thinking, Light-Sport Aircraft can in fact be used for both training and testing for the following ratings: Private Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, CFII.
Breaking it down, here are some good reasons to get these ratings in a Sling LSA:
Great for Stick and Rudder Skill
Basic “stick and rudder” skill has (specifically the lack thereof) has been called out in many aviation accidents, including accidents with passenger airliners. The FAA and NTSB have identified shortcomings in basic pilot skill as contributors to quite a few incidents and accidents. The increase in the level of automation has played a part in this. Slings are ‘stick and rudder’ airplanes – they are stable and well-harmonized, but they require better positive aircraft control to be flown well, compared to legacy flight training airplanes such as the Cessna 172. The Cessna is a great platform for stable flight training, and can even forgive some imperfect landing approaches, whereas the Sling demands more finesse and “stick and rudder” skill. These are skills the FAA wants:
Ref: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-wants-action-on-declining-pilot-skills/
Instrument Training in LSA’s
LSA’s, like the IFR-equipped Sling NGT, can be used for all Instrument training and for the Instrument checkride. The only reason they cannot be flown in actual IMC is that the ASTM Standards that LSA’s are designed to do not at this time have a standard for equipment for flight into IMC. This is in the works. As an aside, with the success of the ASTM standards process, the FAA has been working towards a similar process with its FAR Part 23 Certificate for small airplanes.
At Sling Pilot Academy you can get all your flight experience in actual IMC in our IFR-Certified Tecnam P2006T Twins. And, since flight training and your flight experience en route to the airlines is going to be more risky than flying for the airlines itself, getting your IMC time at this stage in a twin is not a bad idea. The airlines fly with at least 2 engines.
Ref: https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/lsasport/lsa-instrument-training/
Commercial Training in LSA’s: Technically Advanced Airplanes (TAA’s)
Keeping up with the times, the FAA recently (in 2018) changed the Commercial Pilot Requirement for 10 hours of “Complex” time to include training in a “Technically Advanced Airplane”. The FAA understands that managing systems (whether it be a landing gear control or a complex avionics system with an autopilot) teaches a pilot to cope with complexity that can be transferred to other complex airplane systems. So, since the Sling NGT is a TAA, a pilot can receive all the training and take the Commercial Pilot checkride in the Sling NGT.
At Sling Pilot Academy we introduce our pilots to the gear lever when they transfer to multi-engine training in our Tecnam P2006T Twins.
Conclusion
Training in a Sling NGT meets all the requirements for Airplane Single-Engine Land Certificates, makes you a better stick-and-rudder pilot, costs a lot less and is more fun!
We have 2 courses, one starting from Zero Time and one Starting from a Private Pilot Certificate with at least 80 hours of total time.
Prices are here: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com/professional-pilot-course/
Course Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a First Class Airman’s Medical Certificate
More here: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com/prerequisites/
Due to aircraft limitations, students taller than 6’3″ or weighing more than 220 lbs may not be able to train at SPA.
Foreign Students
Please click here if you intend to attend our Los Angeles Location (at Torrance Airport – KTOA).
The TSA requires all non-citizen flight students to go through a brief background check before starting their FAA Initial, Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings (not for other ratings). This should only take 2 weeks to complete, but must be done before flight training begins. You do not have to do this before your intro flight, though.
Please click here if you intend to attend our San Diego Location (at Gillespie Airport – KSEE).
FAA Validation of Foreign Certificate
A straight FAA validation of a foreign PPL is quite easy and requires some paperwork and a meeting at a US FAA FSDO. This results in an FAA Private Pilot certificate ‘issued on the basis of a foreign certificate’ (regardless of whether the foreign certificate has higher ratings). This certificate requires the foreign Pilots License to be maintained as valid. Instructions are here:
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/foreign_license_verification/
Adding Ratings and joining our Accelerated Course
If the holder of the Foreign Pilot License has an Instrument Rating it is possible to add Instrument Privileges to the FAA Certificate based on a Foreign Certificate simply by completing an FAA Instrument Knowledge Test. However, this does not qualify for Instrument Privileges towards a US Commercial Pilot Certificate. If the intention is to take a US Commercial Checkride to have a Certificate not based on a foreign certificate (required for ratings like Commercial, CFI, etc), then a full US Instrument Rating needs to be added to the FAA Private Certificate based on a Foreign Certificate by taking an FAA Instrument Knowledge Test AND FAA Checkride for the Instrument Rating. Then, you can begin to prepare for the Commercial Rating. For this you need to meet the experience requirements (log flight training in the areas required) and study/prepare for and take the the FAA Commercial Knowledge Test and Practical (oral/flight) Test with an FAA examiner or Designated Pilot Examiner. Luckily, most/all of your logged foreign time counts towards the Commercial requirements.
Sling Pilot Academy can help you through this process, which would look like this:
- Help you through the process of getting TSA approval to take flight training in the USA (if a foreign citizen)
- Review your foreign training record and determine what FAA certificate requirements still need to be met (for example Night training not received/logged)
- Assist you in preparation for the FAA Instrument Knowledge Test (computer test)
- Assist you with ground training covering all knowledge areas required for the Oral Test, including FAA Aviation Regulations
- Provide flight training in preparation of the Practical Tests, getting you familiar with the aircraft, the airspace and going over all maneuvers in the Airmen Certification Standards
- Scheduling Practical Tests with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
A Foreign Pilot who obtains an FAA Private Pilot Certificate based on a Foreign Pilot Certificate and has at least 80 hours of total time would be well-suited to join our 6-month Accelerated Program (“from Private”).
In order to join the Academy you need to be legally in the US and authorized to study. A current US Passport or US Birth Certificate is required, or if a foreign Citizen, a Permanent Resident card or a Visa that allows study.
Foreign Citizens require a quick TSA background check approval (normally takes 2 weeks).
At our San Diego, CA (KSEE) location we are able to issue I-20’s to International Students that go towards the issuance of an M-1 Student Visa.
In order to obtain an FAA Airmen Certificate you must be able to fluently speak, read, write and understand the English language.
Medical Requirements
Make sure you can qualify for a First Class Airman’s Medical Certificate.
If you are serious about a career as a commercial pilot, you must first make sure that you are in a position to pass a first class medical. The medical is performed by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME). You can find an AME near you at http://faa.gov/pilots/amelocator . Once you have found an AME you can complete the initial portion of the application at http://medxpress.faa.gov (FAA MedXpress). Note: Please ensure your name on your medical certificate matches your drivers license exactly.
Important Medical Note: certain medical conditions and medications are disqualifying. Please educate yourself to ensure you do not have a medical condition, psychiatric disorder, or take medication that could render you unable to earn a First Class Medical (required to be an airline pilot). Ref: FAA Disqualifying Conditions; FAA Disqualifying Medications; AOPA Medical Resources.