Originally published at: MOSAIC Begins Taking Effect Today
Expanded sport pilot privileges and aircraft definitions begin taking force.
As if prices for old beater 170s and 172s weren’t high enough already !
Do I have this right?
To add a Light Sport Seaplane rating now requires a DPE for the oral and flight test, with the DPE signing the 8710 after you pass?
That’s a big shift from before—when one CFI could train you and another could conduct the proficiency check and sign the 8710.
(Private, Commercial, and ATP always needed a DPE, so that’s not new.)
But DPEs are already swamped, charge steep fees, and very few are seaplane qualified or willing to fly the older Light Sport models.
If this change is correct, it could be a real hit to Sport Seaplane training.
I’ve tried but cannot see why APOA thinks Mosaic is so wonderful. It directly benefits 7,000 sport pilots, around 4% of the GA pilot population. It will allow advanced European LSA’s to reach their full potential without the arbitrary 1,320 weight limitation but these aircraft will not be affordable to most of us, i.e. 250k and up. On the safety side it seems like a retrograde step - anybody can now go out and fly much larger, faster aircraft on their drivers lic without any medical at all - how is this a good thing? Basic med works great - if you are not willing to be examined by a general practice doctor once every 4 years, should you be flying? Somebody please explain what I’m missing here.
Responding to David Dickins: A rusty pilot who didn’t get a Third Class medical within however many years can’t fly with Basic Med. That pilot needs a Third Class medical certificate, with all the ridiculous requirements that entails. So this is a huge improvement.
@JohnSchubert & @Lulu, one of the other benefits of extending Sport Pilot to more capable aircraft is a reduced cost to entry to flying. Start with Sport Pilot for approx 50% of the price in almost any GA aircraft, get experience and then do a Private and Instrument checkride together when it’s time to add a more capable qualification.
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