How old to switch to LSA?

frfly172

frfly172

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just a general question,should have asked ,when do you give up flying IFR. Talking about aging pilots that still qualify for a medical?
 
If you still qualify for a medical, why switch to an LSA?

Don't get me wrong, I fly a LSA as it meets my mission now. But at some point in the future should the family want to fly with me, I'll step up to the private pilot certificate and maybe look for an aircraft with more useful load. But for boring holes in the sky, the LSA does fine.

If you no longer feel the need to fly IFR, why not just continuing flying the aircraft you have now in VFR conditions? I don't think a specific age would dictate IFR vs VFR operation. Or perhaps I'm not understanding the question?
 
According to the FAA's airmen statistics, there were 1,417 pilots aged 80 or over who still held their Airline Transport certificates. I'm thinking you'll know when it's time to gear back by how you feel.

It's probably too individual of a thing to figure out ahead of time, but from what I've seen, sometime in the mid 70's is typical.
 
FYI, I think you meant held a First Class medical with their ATP. You can hold an ATP but not be able to exercise the privileges without the First Class.
 
frfly172 said:
just a general question,should have asked ,when do you give up flying IFR. Talking about aging pilots that still qualify for a medical?
Click to expand...
When you are no longer sure that you can fly IFR safely.

Another approach would be to fly with a CFII you trust and ask him or her to evaluate your ability to fly IFR safely.

As for switching to LSA, that's purely a matter of personal choice as long as you can still pass a medical.
 
When you can't see well enough to tie your white cane to the nose wheel any longer.

Oh. I see people are giving you serious answers.
Only you can decide that.
I fly (now and again) with a guy who is still passing his physicals, still sharp as a tack, still filing IFR, and he is pushing 90.
 
LSA?

If you want an LSA plane, great.

But in the day and age of Basic Med, why would anyone switch to LSA specifically because of age?
 
frfly172 said:
just a general question,should have asked ,when do you give up flying IFR. Talking about aging pilots that still qualify for a medical?
Click to expand...
I hope I'll know.

But I'm not sure it has to be an all or nothing decision. I don't expect my IFR personal minimums to ever be as low again as they were when I got the rating 25 years ago.
 
Not exactly old, but presuming you're current, I find flying IFR required less than VFR, much more spoon fed and much much safer if you're not as great at spotting stuff or with your reactions.

Frankly if you were going to retire on genre of flying due to older age, I'd retire VFR ops before IFR ops.


Also if you're not needing to fly for hire or fly international, you're crazy if you're not using the basic Med program.
 
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