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Skyraider Aviation is a flying club serving pilots and students interested in flying for fun. From a facility at Erie Municipal Airport just north of Denver, Colorado we offer our members aircraft rentals/sales, flight training, and aviation merchandise. Skyraider Aviation operates as a commercial flying club. Flight training and aircraft rentals are available only to members of the club, while aircraft sales and aviation merchandise are available to members and non-members alike. Membership in the club is subject to a $35 initiation fee, a $35 monthly membership fee, and adherence to a strict set of rules and standards meant to ensure the safety of the club members and the club aircraft.
What sets Skyraider Aviation apart from the competition is our focus on Sport Pilots (SP) and Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). After years of lobbying by the aviation industry and key pilot organizations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 2004 authorized a new class of pilot (called the Sport Pilot) and a new category of airplane (called the Light Sport Aircraft). These so called SP/LSA regulations opened the door for low-cost recreational flying.
Simply stated, a Sport Pilot is very restricted as to how, when, what, and where he flies. Consequently, the training required to earn a sport pilot license is significantly less than that required to earn a private pilot license. One of the biggest restrictions placed on sport pilots is that they can only fly light sport aircraft (LSA) . Generally speaking, an LSA is a small, two-seat, uncomplicated airplane that is fun and easy to fly. It is limited in size, weight, speed and capacity.
By dealing only with sport pilots and light sport aircraft, Skyraider Aviation can provide a fun and exciting flying experience for a fraction of the cost of traditional general aviation companies.
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 Jefferson County .
- No flights outside the U.S. without advance permission from the country being visited
- No sightseeing flights with passengers for charity fund raisers;
- No flights above 10,000' MSL;
- 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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