We provide both trike and airplane instruction for Sport Pilot rating by the FAA. There are not a lot of places where you can experiance training in both these categories at the same place.
For airplane Sport Pilot training in a Cessna SkyCatcher (162) or an Apollo LSA (110 knot cruise, 32 knot stall, 1265 pounds gross weight, 1400 FPM climb and light touch controls) please contact Phil Mednick at 813-293-4030 or David Miller at 727-247-6987.
Trike flying is the closest you will come to flying like a bird in a powered plane, period. The trike is a weight shift controlled aircraft with a semi flexible wing. Center of gravity (CG) is varied by pilot's input to initiate turns and to control speed. This allows for very distinct feedback from control inputs back to the pilot and allows for very precise maneuvering.
We provide Sport Pilot Weight Shift Control training that follows the requirements set by the Practical Test Standards of the FAA for Sport Pilot license. The instruction is done under the supervision of FAA Certified Flight Instructors. We have three CFI's on staff for trikes. Below you will see a general outline of the training units. We use and recommend "Hamilton Flight Training System (published by ASA) Kits" for ground school and syllabus for airplanes and trikes. The syllabus is proven over many years of use in the GA training and works well. The learning curve for most students is rapid and it is not uncommon to solo within 15 hours of dual lessons and generally 30 to 35 hours before a student is confident and competent enough to take the checkride and pass. Weather plays a great part in taking lessons that are fruitful for the new student and its certainly not in our control.
We ask that you keep the following in mind when planning your training:
1) Bring a photo ID (driver's license) and a passport or a Birth Certificate and a passport size photograph to prove US Citizenship as required by Transport Security Administration (TSA)
2) If you are not a US citizen and do not already have a FAA license, bring a copy of the TSA background clearance and a passport sized photograph. Our school is listed with the TSA as "TampaBay Aerosport". This is required before we can start training you
3) Be prepared take guidance from your instructor(s). Be prepared to learn
4) Our summer schedule, weather permitting:
Friday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Saturday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Sunday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Monday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Tuesday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Wednesday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day Thursday All day with prior appointment 3 hours flight time max per student per day
Generally we limit one student to have no more than 3 hours of actual flight training per day divided between morning and evening. We have found that beyond this, the student's mind stops absorbing and starts getting tired and in general not conducive for safe and efficient flight instruction
5) 250 pounds max. weight limit
6) If you have "any" medical or physical issues, please discuss those with us before hand
7) Students will be responsible for completing pre-flight inspection on the aircraft after they have been shown how to pre-flight. If instructor has to perform the pre-flight, that time will be cut from the flight lesson hour
8) Hamilton Sport Pilot kits are recommended along with Weight-Shift-Control Flying Handbook (if flying trikes).
9) Our customers who have purchased aircraft from us get preference in training over non-customersOur lessons start with an introductory flight that usually lasts 25 minutes in flight and is aimed at letting you experience the feel of flying and enjoying the flight so that you can make a decision if this kind of sport flying is for you. If you are comfortable, we will even let you fly the aircraft under the instructor's supervision on this introductory flight.
If you decide that you want to continue on this amazing journey to experience freedom like few others do then the lessons get progressively more intense aimed at challenging you and most importantly developing good basic flying and safety habits that will stay with you throughout your flying career. Lessons usually start with a pre-flight briefing followed by the flight and then with a post flight discussion in which you are encouraged to ask questions. Some lessons will be held completely on the ground (ground school) to inform you about such things as pre-flight inspection procedure for trikes, principles of aerodynamics, vehicle systems, meteorology, national airspace and restrictions, radio communications, emergency procedures and other topics that every pilot should know about.
The most often question asked is how long does it take. The answer is, we simply don't know. It depends on each individual but normally its about 15 to 18 hours to solo and about 30 to 35 hours to get a Sport Pilot license in each category.
NOTE: If you are a fixed wing airplane pilot looking to transition into trikes (weight-shift-control), please get ready for a lesson in humility. Nothing you know about flying airplanes will help you with trikes. Nothing transfers except ground school. Airplane pilots in fact make some of the most dangerous trike students for the first 10 hours. We recommend only experienced trike instructors to handle transitioning airplane pilots to WSC. We have a proven record of transitioning many dozens of airplane pilots successfully and safely to trike pilots at TBAS. In terms of time, airplane pilots will take just as long to learn to fly trikes as a normal joe off the street. Accept it because anything else is going to get you hurt.
Please note the new instruction pricing. Students can save by purchasing a non-refundable 5 lesson unit in advance. That represents a saving of $50 over the single hour by hour lesson payment. The only thing required is to make a committment for 5 hour worth of lessons. There is no chance of a return on the 5-pack. Ground instruction is $50/hour.
Accomodations are also available in nearby motels. One of the cleanest and cheapest places to stay is MicroTel Suites about 3 miles from the airport. Phone number is 813-783-2211:
For other local accomodations and other info, please click here.
Lessons can be arranged by contacting us. Flight lessons are preferred during early AM or evening hours when the winds are calm for comfortable flight. Slowly as student's abilities and confidence level develops some windy conditions will be introduced into later lessons.
The following chart shows a 20-unit student lesson plan outline for a typical student for Phase I through solo. This can vary depending on student's motivation level and progress. At least one lesson per week should be scheduled to maintain steady and fast paced progress to best optimize skill and memory retention.
F-1 Introduction Flight F-2 Effects Of Controls Flight G-1 Aerodynamics Ground (self-study assignments) F-3 Maintaining Ground Track and Level Turns Flight F-4 Ground Reference Maneuvers Flight F-5 Ascending and Descending Flight and Turns Flight F-6 Stall Recognition and Recovery Flight F-7 Slow Flight and Slow Flights Maneuvering Flight F-8 Energy Management Flight G-2 Airport Operations Ground G-3 Airspace, Sport Pilot Rules and Restrictions Ground (self-study assignments and instructor led discussion) F-9 Pattern Work and Approach Flight F-10 Pattern Work, Approach and Landings Flight G-4 Aircraft Systems and Performance Ground (self-study assignments) F-11 Pattern Work with CTAF Radio Communication Flight F-12 Wake Turbulence Avoidance, Emergency Procedures, Go-Arounds, Windshear Avoidence Ground and Flight F-13 Crosswind Operations and Soft Field Operations Flight G-5 NOTAMS, TFR's, FSS Briefings, Local Restrictions Ground G-6 Pre-Solo Quiz and Review Ground F-14 Review and Instructor Supervised Solo #1 Flight G-7 Weather, Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM), Aero-Medical Factors Ground (self-study assignments) F-15 Instructor Supervised Solo #2 Flight G-8 Cross Country Planning Example (AFD and Sectional Chart Reading, Pilotage and Dead Reckoning) Ground F-16 Cross-Country with Instructor Flight G-9 Plan First Solo Cross-Country Flight Ground Assignment (Reviewed by Instructor) F-17 Solo Cross Country Flight F-18 Aircraft Setup and Tuning Ground/Flight F-19 Review for Practical Flight