Since the final Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft Rule was released Tuesday, July 20, 2004, USUA HQ has been inundated with calls from members requesting clarification and transition information. USUA Staff are currently attending meetings with FAA and industry leaders, which will hopefully clarify some of the details. An Advisory Circular is being prepared by FAA and will be released soon, but in the interest of helping our members smoothly transition into this program, USUA offers this as a guide. The first installment concerns Sport Pilot registration for registered ultralight pilots. In the days to come, guidance will be offered concerning Sport Pilot DPE, Sport Pilot CFI, and Light Sport Aircraft registration.

First and foremost, register as an ultralight pilot or BFI before September 1, 2004. USUA realizes that there may be many members who have received the required training and who have logged the required flight experience, but have never followed through with the testing and/or registration. This is your opportunity to complete the process and receive maximum credit for your labors.

IF YOU ARE REGISTERED AS AN ULTRALIGHT PILOT OR INSTRUCTOR ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND FLIGHT PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS OF SPORT PILOT.

If you are registered as an ultralight pilot or instructor after September 1, 2004 you will be required to meet these requirements. You will, however, be allowed to credit experience (logged time) obtained while a member of an FAA-recognized ultralight organization. Sport Pilot registration requires:

As you can see, currently registered ultralight pilots not only get credit for aeronautical knowledge and flight experience, but they will be able to transition to Sport Pilot with less required training.

USUA HQ staff will be operating non-stop until 12:00AM Eastern Time, September 2, 2004 to accommodate members across the country with last-minute registration requests. Mail completed applications to:

Your registrations can also be FAXed to (717) 339-0063. Members can also email PDF copies of their applications to usua@usua.org. When faxing or emailing applications, mail the original copy also. NOTE: USUA CANNOT PROCESS INCOMPLETE OR ILLEGIBLE APPLICATIONS. MAKE SURE IT IS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

All Sport Pilot applicants will be required to pass the Sport Pilot knowledge and practical tests. According to FAA, the practical test standards should be available by October 1, 2004. At that time, USUA will be able to offer additional guidance to members concerning Sport Pilot testing.

REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT PILOTS WILL HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2007 TO REGISTER AS A SPORT PILOT. After that time, all Sport Pilot applicants will be responsible for satisfactory completion of ALL requirements.

FAA has said that as documentation for the ultralight pilot registration, a certified copy of your pilot records will suffice. USUA is awaiting clarification of this point from the upcoming Advisory Circular, but it may be possible that your existing USUA member/airman card will be adequate. In the event that FAA should require additional documentation, USUA will provide the appropriate materials for members requesting them. FAA hopes to be able to begin Sport Pilot registration by January 2005.

One of the key selling points of the Sport Pilot program is the driver's license medical. Previous FAA pilot certificates required a third-class medical or higher, but this new rule will recognize applicants with a valid driver's license (or third-class medical) to satisfy medical requirements. There is a caveat to this however. The rule reads:

"(2) A person using a current and valid U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of this paragraph must -

(i) comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle;

(ii) have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);

(iii) not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a medical certificate withdrawn; and

(iv) not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a Light Sport Aircraft in a safe manner."

This means that as a Sport Pilot you can use your driver's license in lieu of a third-class medical UNLESS your medical has been suspended or revoked or if you have received an Authorization for a Special Issuance of a medical certificate (NOTE: When unable to pass a third-class medical it is possible to apply for and be issued on a case-by-case basis a special medical which will detail any limitations which you must abide by while piloting an aircraft.) and that special issuance has been withdrawn by FAA for one reason or another. When asked to clarify this point, FAA responded that special issuance medicals would be available for Sport Pilot. The applicant must apply for, and if authorized, operate under its specific limitations. This would apply to the situation of the revoked or suspended circumstance. More detailed clarification of the driver's license medical and the related exclusions are expected in the Advisory Circular.

The Sport Pilot driver's license medical was presented as the vehicle that would allow pilots who had lost their medicals an opportunity to fly aircraft with greater capabilities than Part 103 would allow. The final rule it seems has placed limitations on this aspect. As stated by FAA, Part 103 will remain unchanged and ultralight aviation, which has no such medical requirements, will remain available to anyone.