Sport Pilot: Cessna 150s, Diabetes and Fuel Injection

FLYING Staff

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:56 PM ET

Verified

Titan Tornado SS Jim Koepnick / EAA

Key Takeaways:

Older Cessna models like the 150/152 do not qualify as Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) due to exceeding maximum weight limits.
A standard flight instructor (CFI SEL) is fully qualified to provide all necessary training for a Sport Pilot certificate.
An FAA medical certificate is not required for Sport Pilot, but pilots must not have had a medical denied/suspended and should consult their physician regarding health conditions like insulin-dependent diabetes.
Fuel-injected engines are acceptable under Light Sport Aircraft standards, as LSA only requires a reciprocating engine without specific restrictions on fuel delivery systems.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Each month, Flying answers questions about the new Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule with assistance from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the authority on the opportunities available within the category commonly known as “Sport Pilot”:

Q: I have two questions regarding light-sport aircraft: Is a 1976 Cessna 150 with a 100 hp engine eligible as an LSA? And, can my instructor (who is rated CFI SEL) qualify me (prepare me for written and practical tests) for a Sport Pilot certificate?