How to Acquire Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) Privileges

These are the steps to take to acquire the signoffs and endorsements for Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) privileges.

You will learn:

• How to acquire Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) privileges-
  • If you are a new instructor candidate.
  • If you are an Ultralight Instructor who doesn’t have a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, and wants to instruct in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).
  • If you are an existing Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) who wants to instruct in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).

NOTE: If an FAA medical has been revoked, denied, withheld, or suspended, this requires a special issuance to clear the medical, before the driver’s license may be used as the medical eligibility. Any limitation on the driver’s license or FAA medical must be followed.

Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) Privileges

What is a certificated Sport Pilot Flight Instructor (CFIS)?

A FAA Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) has privileges similar to other FAA certificated flight instructors (CFI); however, he or she may only instruct in the category of light- sport aircraft in which he or she is qualified and operates under FAR 61 Subpart K rather than Subpart H. A CFIS may also perform proficiency checks to add a category or class to the certificate of an existing Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot CFIS.

Prerequisites to be a Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS)

The applicant must hold a sport pilot or higher pilot certificate with the category and class privileges as appropriate to the flight instructor privileges sought. The candidate must be at least 18 years old.

Experience Requirements

Airplane and weight-shift-control category instructors need 150 hours of flight time as a pilot, which must include at least:

(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.

Additional Instructor Skills

Sport pilots must build additional skills in the Fundamentals of Instruction and Technical Subject Areas. All the sport pilot tasks must be mastered to:

• Perform the maneuvers and procedures at a higher level than the sport pilot tolerances.
• Have instructional knowledge of tasks.
• Have knowledge of common errors and be able to identify, analyze, and correct mistakes.

Back to top

How to Acquire Certified Flight Instructor Privileges

New Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) candidate

• Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
• Receive training and endorsement from Sport Pilot CFI to take the computer based knowledge test and the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) tests.
• Pass the FOI test.
• Pass the CFI knowledge test for specific category.
• Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411. Time logged in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53 until January 31, 2008. However, the checkride must be in an N-numbered aircraft.
• Obtain and log training within 60 days before practical test.
• Obtain endorsement for practical test from Sport Pilot CFI in log book and on 8710-11 form.
• Pass CFI sport practical test with DPE/SPIE. Click here to find a DPE. (Chose from the “Examiner Listing” at bottom of page.)
• Receive Sport Pilot CFI Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for Practical test.

Ultralight Instructor before January 31, 2008
A. Ultralight Instructor previously registered with an Ultralight organization

• Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411.
• Time logged before January 31, 2008 in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53
• Checkride must be in an N numbered aircraft.

Back to top

Next: Hamilton Pilot Training System for Sport Pilot CFI Applicants