Andy.. that is standard for anyone moving from a glider rating to an
airplane rating.
They are finally covering their tracks for the Sport Pilot level.
BT

"Andy" wrote in message
...
For some reason I can't reply to the old thread that discussed adding
new ratings to sport pilot without a flight test. The reply option is
not available. Anyway...

It seems FAA has had second thought on this and has issued an NPRM.
Some of it reads as follows:

"Currently, to obtain additional aircraft
category and class privileges at the sport
pilot level, the holder of a pilot
certificate must complete a proficiency
check administered by an authorized
instructor. Upon successful completion
of that proficiency check, that person
receives a logbook endorsement from
the instructor who administered the
proficiency check. That endorsement
permits the person completing the
proficiency check to exercise sport pilot
privileges in the category and class of
aircraft in which the proficiency check
was administered.
Consistent with the FAA’s system for
issuing all other pilot certificates and
ratings, the FAA is proposing to require
a person seeking privileges to operate an
additional category and class of lightsport
aircraft as a sport pilot to obtain
the appropriate category and class
rating. These ratings would be issued
after the completion of a practical test
typically administered by an FAAdesignated
pilot examiner (DPE). The
practice of obtaining privileges to
operate a light-sport aircraft after
completion of a proficiency check by an
authorized instructor would be
discontinued. Privileges to operate lightsport
aircraft would be indicated as
ratings on a person’s pilot certificate
rather than by an endorsement in a
person’s logbook."

Note the requirement for a flight test with an FAA designated
examiner. (DPE)

The full NPRM can be seen at
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1127.pdf

Andy