The Hamilton Pilot Training System (HPTS), is a flight and ground training system for a Sport Pilot Instructor (CFIS) applicant to become an instructor and teach in light sport aircraft including fixed-wing aircraft (airplanes), weight-shift control aircraft (trikes), and powered parachutes. You can use it with an Instructor and/or as a home study course.
The training system, developed by Sport Pilot industry leader, Paul Hamilton, CFI, DPE, SPE, SPIE, uses a building block approach that optimizes training time, as well as your time with your Instructor. It offers you a step-by-step process to learn all of the tasks, aeronautical knowledge, and skills necessary for you to simply and easily become a Sport Pilot CFI.
The Hamilton Pilot Training System Description
The training system is a step-by-step standardized process that includes specific lesson plans for the Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor applicant.
- Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor Applicant
- Stage 1 – Basics of Flight Training
- Stage 2 – Student and Instructor Learning Behavior and Communication
- Stage 3 – Instructor Responsibilities
- Stage 4 – Sport Pilot CFI FAA Test Preparation for Knowledge and Practical Test
- Fundamentals of Instruction Knowledge Test
- CFI Knowledge Test for Category
- Checkride (Practical Test)
- Oral Test
- Flight Test
The Sport Pilot Instructor certification course is similar to the Sport Pilot certification course; however, it requires a higher level of knowledge and skill plus additional teaching skills in Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Skill. Each Module contains both a flight and ground lesson. The flight lessons follow a similar progression to the Sport Pilot lesson plans, but the student/applicant applies the Fundamentals of Instruction ground training learned for the flight lesson. Therefore, ground lessons must be completed before the flight lessons. We will call the sport pilot undergoing training to be an instructor an quot;applicant” throughout this part of the syllabus.
Lesson Plans, Stage Checks, and FAA Testing Procedures
The applicant studies the Fundamentals of Instruction and then applies the principles to the flight lessons. The student is learning to instruct the instructor who is playing the role of a student as well as teaching the instructor applicant how to instruct. The lesson plans use FAA 8083-9, the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook as a basis for homework assignments. Stage checks are performed within the flight lesson at the end of each stage. The course exam is the Fundamentals of Instruction test, CFI knowledge test preparation and the simulated checkride. The instructor provides the recommendation for the applicant to take an instructor checkride from a designated pilot examiner (DPE) with a sport pilot instructor examiner (SPIE) rating on FAA Form 8110-11.
This system is detailed in the Airplane, Weight-Shift Control Trike, PPC Sport Pilot Training Syllabus, which is the applicant’s workbook. The training syllabus specifies tasks for flight and ground training. It outlines student homework which the Instructor assigns and reviews.
A Training Task Log is used by the Instructor to record the student’s progress in flight and ground tasks.
Kits for Sport Pilot CFI Applicants
Kits for Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) applicants to help “Ace” the FAA Knowledge and Practical (checkride) exams. (If you’re an instructor, you can offer these as part of your course, purchase seperately, or recommend they purchase them from Adventure Productions.)
Training Kits
- Sport Pilot CFI Applicant Kit, Fixed Wing Aircraft
- Sport Pilot CFI Applicant Kit, Weight-Shift Control Trike
- Sport Pilot CFI Applicant Kit, Powered Parachute
Test Prep Kits
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or Instruction with Paul Hamilton
Mr. Hamilton.
I stumbled upon your site today (7/20/2010), and was pleasantly surprised at the presentation and amount of detail you went to in laying things out. I am interested in becoming a Sport Pilot Instructor, hopefully sometime within the next 12months. Got a pile of things to clear off my plate, and then I should have the time to dedicate to this endeavor.
Am I correct in seeing that there is no requirement for a Commercial rating for CFIS, or is it implied?
Thanks.
Suzanne
Suzanne,
There is no requirement for a commercial for a sport pilot CFIS. It appears you have the hours required. You should start on your studying and get started.
I’m thinking about becoming a CFIS. What I’m wondering is what is the minimum hours of training required, what is the average amount of hours spent by most applicants, and can a private pilot get a CFIS rating without an instrument rating or commercial rating, and if so, why? Also there seems to not be any test prep material printed specifically for CFIS. It seems that I would need to get ASAs CFI book. Is that correct? Thanks.
For a CFIS there are no minimum training hours required but 150 total hours, (i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in category,
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country flight time,
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country flight time in category, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in category that is a
light-sport aircraft.
No instrument rating is required for a CFIS. And yes to study you get the ASA CFI book or prepware to study for the FOI and CFIS test.