Plane Categories and Restrictions on Ops
I'm just getting to the Nav part of my PPL training (PA28) and starting to think about how I'm going to afford to do all the amazing things that I'll be able to do once I'm qualified. I'd like to tour around, visit exotic and interesting places, have overnight adventures, attend flyins, learn to navigate competently, handle a plane in non ideal conditions and maybe do some aeros.
Having lurked here for a few months, I thought it time to de-virginise my posting status. My questions are:
What are the restrictions involved in flying a permit aircraft?
How is the spectrum of machines (microlights-permit-GA) categorised and what are the limitations moving up the scale?
How and when will this sensible sounding Euro version of LSA effect things? Will these planes be allowed to tour Europe from the UK? Can current permit planes?
Why are permit planes so much less expensive to buy and operate than a registered GA plane?
There seems to be a bipe shown on the PFA web site - are there aero competitions for this category of plane?
Should I assume that all else equal, permit operation is less safe then more expensive alternatives?
Thank you very much in advance for any thoughts and help!
I'll be really interested to hear any practical ideas about maintaining a JAA PPL while being able to afford to get some serious air time.