I’ll admit it. I wasn’t really seeing what the new Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) rules could do for aviation. Yes, the LSA rules are simplified and costs for a new airplane can be lower. And, yes, you can fly an LSA with a valid driver’s license instead of an FAA medical certificate. But the first LSA offerings have been either versions of pumped up ultralights, or re-creations of classics such as the Piper J3 Cub. Why pay nearly $100,000 for a new Cub when the real thing in perfectly restored condition can be had for a fraction of that?
But Cessna boss Jack Pelton and his people do understand what an LSA can do for Cessna and for general aviation, and now I get it, too. Training is the answer. An LSA from Cessna has the potential to boost the flight training business to levels we haven’t seen in decades.
