The certificate rating is not official yet. It has to bounce around a
bit more in the White House Office of Management and Budget for
approval. But this certificate looks pretty cool. The recreational
pilot’s license was too close to a private pilot’s license without any
real benefits. The Sport Pilot license has a lowered amount of training
needed to get started and doesn’t require a medical exam. You just need
a valid driver’s license which gets applied as your medical certificate
(if I read it correctly). Of course, the aircraft and airspace you fly
in is regulated, but it also keeps things affordable.

Specs and details can be found here:
href=”http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/regsport.html” title=”AOPA
Online – Regulatory Brief — FAA Proposes Sport Pilot/Light Sport
Aircraft Rule”>FAA Proposes Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft Rule