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 Skyraider Aviation is a flying club for pilots and students interested in flying for fun! From our facilities at Erie Municipal Airport just north of Denver, Colorado and Centennial Airport on the south side of town, we offer our members aircraft rentals/sales, flight training, and aviation merchandise.
Skyraider Aviation operates as a flying club. Membership in the club is subject to a $35 initiation fee, a $35 monthly membership fee, and adherence to a set of rules and standards meant to ensure the safety of the club members and the club aircraft. Not sure if you're ready to join the club? Come out for a discovery flight with one of our instructors.
What sets Skyraider Aviation apart from the competition is our focus on Sport Pilots (SP) and Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The Sport Pilot license is a new type of license meant to make it easier and less expensive to get into aviation. In fact, because the training requirements are less, you can earn a Sport Pilot license in half the time and with half the expense of a Private Pilot license. As an added benefit, you can fly as a Sport Pilot without having to go through an FAA medical exam.
While there are some restrictions placed on Sport Pilots, they can still fly almost anywhere in the US, in some of the coolest new airplanes around! The following points summarize the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft regulations:
Sport Pilot
- Requires only 20 hours of flight training (By contrast, a private pilot license requires 40 hours)
- FAA medical exam is not required. A valid US drivers licenses serves as proof of medical eligibilty
- Can only fly light sport aircraft.
- No flights into Class B, C, or D airspace unless the pilot has received training and a logbook endorsement. Class B airspace surrounds only the biggest and busiest of airports like Denver International. Class C airspace surrounds small busy airports such as Colorado Springs . Class D airspace surrounds smaller towered airports such as Centennial and Rocky Mountain Metro.
- No flights outside the U.S. without advance permission from the country being visited
- No sightseeing flights with passengers for charity fund raisers;
- Daytime flight only; no night flights
- No flights when the visibility is less than 3 statute miles;
- No flights unless the pilot can see the surface of the earth for flight reference; (i.e. no flights above a solid layer of clouds)
- No flights contrary to any limitation listed on the pilot's certificate, U.S. driver's license, FAA medical certificate, or logbook endorsement(s);
- No flights while carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire (i.e. no commercial operations);
- No renting a light-sport aircraft unless it was issued a "special" airworthiness certificate;
Light Sport Aircraft
- Maximum gross takeoff weight of 1,320 lbs (1,430 lbs for seaplanes).
- Lighter-than-air light-sport aircraft maximum gross weight-660 lbs
- Maximum stall speed-51 mph (45 knots)
- Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (V h)-138 mph (120 knots)
- Two-place maximum (pilot and one passenger)
- Single, non-turbine engine only, includes rotary or diesel engines
- Fixed or ground adjustable propeller
- Non-pressurized cabin
- Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider
- Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport aircraft certification without FAR Part 23 compliance. Aircraft must meet consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
- Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
- Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if it was kit- or plans-built and operated as an ultralight trainers. Aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008 .
- Will have FAA registration-N-number.
- Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control (Trike Land/Sea), and Powered Parachute.
- U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
- Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, that airworthiness certification category will not be changed to a light-sport aircraft. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
- May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.209 and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.
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