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!