…Training, Estimated Cost: $4,000…

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A total of 13 airplanes are now fully approved under Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) provisions and now the push is on to put pilots in them and the dozens that are sure to follow. It’s only been a few months since the first ready-to-fly planes were approved and not much longer since the first examiners were certified so there’s a lot of catching up to do as these aircraft hit the market. However, we’re now getting some idea of the training that will be required and its cost. Joshua Foss, of SportsPlanes.com told an Oshkosh news conference that a full training package for fixed wing S-LSAs should be less than $4,000. Foss said that although the Sport Pilot rules call for a minimum of 20 hours of instruction, 30 hours is more realistic. Ironically, hourly instruction costs likely won’t be a lot cheaper (and may even be more expensive) than private pilot training because the airplanes used will be brand new, in most cases, and worth more than the decades-old aircraft many schools use for training. Foss’s company now has 20 regional sales, service and training centers lined up around the U.S. and there are plans for more, including some in Canada. It’s likely the largest company involved in the burgeoning market and is the U.S. representative for three recently approved S-LSAs and the fully certified Alarus.

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