No, in step 2 I completed my check ride where I get the "ticket" to fly at a flight school? Wouldn't that ticket permit me to jump in any LSA and head for the stars (10k ft)? I was thinking that I would want someone (experienced pilot) with experience to come along with me while I adjust to my plane which would be different than the plane I trained on, which looks like it will be the J230. Thanks for correcting me if I am wrong here.
Ahh. I see. Well the problem you’ll run into is “any licensed pilot” can’t be compensated at all for flying with you. A Commercial pilot can, with various significant restrictions. So no paying anyone except a CFI usually.
Anyone can fly with you for no compensation, however. Friends riding along may or may not know your particular airplane. If it’s an odd LSA you bought, it’s far more likely you’re the local expert on it. Not them.
And people do like to fly along, but paying them to do so crosses a number of FAA lines. So you can’t do that.
Having them help you “get comfortable” is iffy. That’s really an instructors job if you’re saying you’re not truly ready to be Pilot in Command.
Once you have your certificate, that’s what you are.
Since you’d be switching aircraft types, most insurance companies will require a few hours of instruction minimum in your new-to-you aircraft anyway. Perhaps as high as 10 hours in type.
You won’t know until you pick an aircraft and get insurance quotes.
Once that’s done, you really should be able to operate the airplane (perhaps with personal limitations that YOU would maintain or change as your experience and confidence grow) as PIC.
Essentially what I’m saying here is that from the FAA legal perspective, you’re the PIC after that accelerated school in your plan. Your airplane, your decisions.
If you can find a friend to fly along, great. But your instructor at the school nor the FAA examiner will be looking for anything less than you being fully rated to fly to whatever certificate level you’re applying for.
Changing types is a secondary thing, and like I said, usually the insurance company mandates some type training from a CFI. But the FAA says you’re able to fly “whatever” on day one of your certificate, as long as it meets whatever the certificate says on it.
Example: FAA says I can fly a WHOLE BUNCH of twins. Insurance company would say, “No way in hell until you hire an instructor and get a checkout in that thing.”
Bringing along a twin rated friend who has time in type wouldn’t help me a bit. Trying to pay them to ride along would be an even bigger legal problem.
Hiring a CFI to check me out in it, fine. Assuming they have time in type. The insurance company may limit THEM also.
Make sense?
If you buy something after you have your rating, and that’s an uncommon aircraft, it’s pretty common to have to fly somewhere commercially to get an instructor to check you out, or bring the instructor to you for those first few hours. All depends on what the insurer wants.
