GA Terminal Welcomes Sport Pilots

04.01.05 Special Edition: Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn officially extended access of the General Aviation facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the anticipated influx of sport pilots who are commuting to work in downtown LA from outlying airports.

"This is just what many of us have looked forward to," says Kon Jemmeries, a well-seasoned trike pilot and instructor. "This new sport pilot license is really opening up the system for us little guys who have wanted to be treated with respect for many years," he said.

Because of the huge difference in flying speeds of light sport aircraft versus the air carriers, FAA has established several new traffic patterns. According to an unnamed FAA Public Relations official, "We simply added a couple of half-size, half altitude pattern for runways 24 left because it is closest to the Sport Pilot Passenger Center (SPPC)," said an FAA Public Relations Director.

"These little guys have their own runway threshold marking which are about two-thirds down the runway and near the high-speed turn-offs. "We also added several turn-out areas for powered parachute pilots to collapse their parachute-type wings and store them for taxi. We (FAA) are confident that these added aviation activities at LAX can go on without a hitch," he concluded

Los Angeles International is the first major airport to welcome sport pilots and light sport aircraft. FAA sees it as a precedent-setting move which will become the model for other  major airports to emulate. Although FAA generally prohibits Sport Pilot access has required a waiver from FAA which "FAA made easy to get," said Mayor Hahn. "We believe the additional revenue from these "instructional" flights will contribute substantially to the funding for LAX," he added.

"It was great to finally be able to fly above the 405 freeway congestion instead of being stuck on the ground as I have for 15 years of commuting into work," said Jemmeries. "I just quietly smiled while sailing over everyone on my way into work. "This is really gonna catch on," he concluded.

FMI: www.trikeLAX.com