Cessna Skycatcher To Have Training Prepared By Kings

John and Martha King have picked up the prototype Skycatcher. They will operate the airplane at their school and prepare ground school courses for both Sport Pilot and Private Pilot training in the Skycatcher. I like the idea of Cessna getting into LSA. They are, after all, the aviation version of the 600 pound gorilla. When they do something they do it right, so LSA will get a fighting chance. Cessna is known for spotting trends in the marketplace, and I hope they are right again. I am delighted to know that there will be ground school courses for both sport and private pilots. From all I can gather, Cessna sees the Skycatcher—and LSA in general—as the trainer of the future, rather than a new class of aircraft that can be flown without a medical. I think they’re right, but I have reservations. I am convinced there is a growing market for purely recreational flight, rather than transitional flight in preparation for a “real†airplane that goes faster, higher and farther. One group—it seems to me—to which aviation has not marketed is seniors. Yet I know seniors who fly often just for the simple pleasure of it. Some of them are high time pilots who don’t want to quit flying. Other seniors are low time pilots or pilots who never got their certificate. They would kinda, sorta, maybe scratch that itch again without the pressure of higher, faster, bigger and more expensive. Yes, let’s use LSA for training pilots who will move up. But let’s also use it to train those citizens who just want to fly for the sheer joy of it. We'd love to post your comments. Please click the comment tab at the top.