Originally Posted by
init4fun
I know it's a stretch , but , could the difference be that the average sport pilot wouldn't be frequently pushing the equipment to the ends of it's safe operating limits like a competition pilot might ? Like I said , I know it's a stretch but I really can't think of any other reason other than the increased danger of any machine being operated in an attempt to best the operation of similar machinery in competition .
I know at times it may seem that I am disagreeing with somone just for the sake of disagreeing. Trust me that is not the case. I would argue here that competitive pilots are much safer then sport pilots. For one, their equipment is maintained much better. The equipment selection is better thought out. A sport pilot may make a servo choice based on saving 100.00 for the set. The airplanes are usually better set up, and of course there is the difference in skill set. Yes there are some very talented sport pilots out there however a competitive pilot spends a great deal of time practicing the same things over and over.
All that being said, the FAA only has two categories, recreational and commercial. Without taxable income from being a competition pilot he is automatically placed into the recreational category.