Any Sport Pilot flight training available in North Texas, DFW area? Every school I call isn't doing it anymore.

[darowden]

I have been trying to find a school that does Sport Pilot in the McKinney, Texans area, or anywhere within 100 miles of McKinney (it's north of Dallas), but every school I call, despite showing up in a search for Sport Pilot flight training, says they only do Private Pilot, commercial or ATP. Does anyone have any information on any flight training in North Texas for Sport pilot? Starting to think its becoming unpopular to train sport pilots? Maybe not profitable enough? Any tips would be helpful.

Thanks!

Dave

 

[RyanShort1]

There’s not significant money in it.
Go look at the numbers to buy something like the Texas Colt, figure out hangar and insurance and operating expenses, and then figure out how many sport pilots you’d need to train per year to break even.

 

[Learnin’ to fly…]

Have you looked at Thrust Flight in Addison? Don’t know anything about them personally, but am pretty sure they have a large fleet of SportCruisers. It’s the aircraft type that matters.

Sport Pilot and Private Pilot are the same training. Sport simply excludes the limited night and IFR that you do in Private. You need the LSA for solo and checkride.

 

[darowden]

Have you looked at Thrust Flight in Addison? Don’t know anything about them personally, but am pretty sure they have a large fleet of SportCruisers. It’s the aircraft type that matters.

Sport Pilot and Private Pilot are the same training. Sport simply excludes the limited night and IFR that you do in Private. You need the LSA for solo and checkride.

I have, They are not listing sport pilot among their flight training programs anymore. I will call them to be sure though.

I did find one outfit in Ft Worth, at Meacham, that does a lot of LSA services, including brokerage, that offers flight training, Fort Worth Light Sport Aviation, and they may be the ones I go with if Thrust doesn't do it, as it seems. Its at least an hour drive, probably more, but not a lot of options here. There was a CFI in Denison, Halterman Aviation, that did training with his KitFox, but he hasn't got back to me so not sure if he is interested in training.

 

[darowden]

There’s not significant money in it.
Go look at the numbers to buy something like the Texas Colt, figure out hangar and insurance and operating expenses, and then figure out how many sport pilots you’d need to train per year to break even.

I understand. It has to be about money to stay afloat, it's a competitive industry. But it's shame, as a lot more people could get into aviation with Light Sport.

 

[RyanShort1]

I understand. It has to be about money to stay afloat, it's a competitive industry. But it's shame, as a lot more people could get into aviation with Light Sport.

I used to think that, but if that was true, and there were enough motivated people with enough money to get into aviation, I think by now you'd see more light sport operations thriving. Instead, they've shrunk.

 

[Learnin’ to fly…]

I have, They are not listing sport pilot among their flight training programs anymore. I will call them to be sure though.

I did find one outfit in Ft Worth, at Meacham, that does a lot of LSA services, including brokerage, that offers flight training, Fort Worth Light Sport Aviation, and they may be the ones I go with if Thrust doesn't do it, as it seems. Its at least an hour drive, probably more, but not a lot of options here. There was a CFI in Denison, Halterman Aviation, that did training with his KitFox, but he hasn't got back to me so not sure if he is interested in training.

That’s great, good luck.

It’s all about the aircraft. As long as you have an LSA for solo and checkride- you have what you need. It does not make a bit of difference to a CFI or flight school if you test for PPL or SPL (unless they are a CFIS, in which case they can only instruct for SPL).

 

[CAVU7]

I have been trying to find a school that does Sport Pilot in the McKinney, Texans area, or anywhere within 100 miles of McKinney (it's north of Dallas), but every school I call, despite showing up in a search for Sport Pilot flight training, says they only do Private Pilot, commercial or ATP. Does anyone have any information on any flight training in North Texas for Sport pilot? Starting to think its becoming unpopular to train sport pilots? Maybe not profitable enough? Any tips would be helpful.

Thanks!

Dave

Just made an account so not sure how to message but shoot me one if allowed. I know the folks at Fort Worth Light Sport at Meacham. They have a Vashon Ranger that should be available for training very soon.