Sport Pilot License: Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Sport Pilot

What is a sport pilot license?

Learning to fly is one of the most rewarding experiences that you can have. The sport pilot license, or certificate, is the FAA’s newest addition to the pilot certificate line-up. Developed in 2007, the purpose of the sport pilot certificate is to make flying more affordable and easily available to everyone.

A student pilot who isn’t yet able to afford the time investment or cost of a private pilot license has a quick and inexpensive alternative.

Intrigued? Read on to discover if a sport pilot license may be right for you.

Who is eligible for a sport pilot license?

In order to qualify for a sport pilot certificate, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old when you start training
• Be at least 17 years old when you take your test
• Be able to read, write, speak and understand English
• Have a valid U.S. driver’s license (unless you will only be flying gliders or balloons)
• Obtain a student pilot certificate
• Log a designated number of hours of flight and training time
• Pass a written and practical test

What kind of planes can I fly with a sport pilot license?

Pilots holding a sport pilot certificate are licensed to fly light sport aircraft. The FAA definition of a light sport aircraft is an aircraft other than a helicopter or power-lift craft that meets the following specifications:

• Max gross takeoff weight: less than 1,320 lbs (or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes)
• Max stall speed: 51 mph (45 knots CAS)
• Max speed at level flight (Vh): 139 mph (120 knots CAS)
• Max number of seats: 2
• Maximum number of engines: 1
• Propeller: Fixed-pitch or ground adjustable
• Cabin: Unpressurized
• Landing gear: Fixed (except for seaplanes and gliders)

Light sport aircraft come in multiple categories including:

• Fixed-wing airplane
• Glider
• Lighter-than-air (i.e. – airship or balloon)
• Rotorcraft (gyroplane)
• Powered parachute
• Weight-Shift control aircraft (i.e. – trikes)

Want an even better idea of which specific aircraft you can fly with your sport pilot certificate? Check out the AOPA’s list of currently certified light sport aircraft.

What flight restrictions does a sport pilot license come with?

As an entry-level pilot license, and one that is fast to earn, the FAA places certain safety parameters on the types of flights you are eligible to fly.

• You cannot carry a passenger for hire or compensation
• Flights may not be “in furtherance of business”
• All flights must be made during the daytime
• Pilot must always have a minimum of 3 miles of visibility
• No flying in towered airspace unless you have received additional flight instruction and instructor endorsements
• No flying outside the United States
• Maximum flight altitude must be below 10,000 feet MSL
• Limited to 1 passenger

What is the difference between a sport pilot license and a recreational pilot license?

As the two entry-level pilot certificate options, there are a lot of similarities between a sport pilot license and a recreational pilot license.

Both are less expensive and take fewer hours to earn than a standard private pilot license. In both cases, pilots are limited to one passenger and cannot fly in towered air space without additional flight instruction.

The main differences between the sport pilot and recreational pilot are:

Sport Pilot

• FAA medical certificate: Not required in most cases
• Aircraft size: Limited to 1,320 lb max gross weight and 2 seats
• Minimum flight training time: 20 hours
• Night flight: Never allowed

Recreational Pilot

• FAA medical certificate: Class 3 certificate required
• Aircraft size: Limited to 180 hp max and 4 seats
• Minimum flight training time: 30 hours
• Night flight: Add-on certification/rating can be earned. No passengers allowed.

As you can see, for a student pilot, the advantages of the sport pilot license are you most likely will not need to get and renew a medical certificate, plus it takes 10 fewer hours of training to meet the requirements. This saves not only time but also money.

The tradeoff is that with a sport pilot certificate, your choices of aircraft are different and there is no option to do night flying. If you like light-sport aircraft and don’t intend to fly at night, the sport pilot route is a good fit.

What is the difference between a sport pilot license and a private pilot license?

A private pilot license is the most common initial certification that student pilots opt for. How does it compare to the sport pilot certification? Let’s have a look.

Sport Pilot

• FAA medical certificate: Not required in most cases
• Aircraft size: Limited to 1,320 lb max gross weight and 2 seats
• Minimum flight training time: 20 hours
• Night flight: Never allowed
• Maximum number of passengers: 1
• Flights in Class B, C or D airspace: Additional flight instruction required
• Flight outside the United States: Not allowed
• Flights with less than 3 miles visibility: Not allowed

Private Pilot

• FAA medical certificate: Class 3 certificate required
• Aircraft size: Unlimited (may need type ratings for certain aircraft)
• Minimum flight training time: 40 hours
• Night flight: Allowed
• Maximum number of passengers: No limit
• Flight outside the United States: Allowed
• Flights in Class B, C or D airspace: Allowed
• Flights with less than 3 miles visibility: Allowed in uncontrolled airspace

What does this mean for you? If you don’t plan to fly outside the United States, at night, with more than 1 passenger or in conditions with visibility of under 3 miles, and you are content with the performance envelope of a light-sport aircraft, a sport pilot certificate may be the faster, easier, less expensive option that you are looking for.

How much does a sport pilot license cost?

Learning to fly should be accessible to everyone, and as we just mentioned, one of the selling points for a sport pilot license is the lower cost. In comparison to the average $6,000 - $7,000 for a recreational pilot license, and even more for a private pilot license, the average sport pilot license can be earned for $4,400 - $5,500. That’s at least a $1,500 - $1,600 savings. When shopping around for a flight school, ask them if they offer training for a sport pilot license.

How do I get a sport pilot license?

1.      Be sure you meet the requirements

Before you get started on the process, check the certification requirements and make sure that you qualify. As a reminder, you must be at least 16 years old to start training and 17 years old to take the test.

You must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. You must also have a valid U.S. driver’s license (unless you will only be flying gliders or balloons).

2.      Apply for a student pilot certificate

As with all other pilot’s certificates, before you can start your sport pilot flight training, you must first apply for and receive a student pilot certificate. The fastest way to do this is to fill out an online application on the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating (IACRA) website, but you can also print and fill out FAA form 8710-1.

The next step is to submit your printed 8710-1 or proof of digital filing to an approved party. You have plenty of choices here including a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), a certified flight instructor (CFI), an FAA-designated pilot examiner (DPE), or a part 141 flight school’s airman certification representative.

Whomever you submit your application to will process it and forward it to the Airmen Certification Branch for review. You should get your printed certificate in the mail in the next 3 weeks.

3.      Get your 3^rd class medical certificate (if necessary)

Every other level of pilot certification requires you to go through a medical certification process and then renew that certification on a regular basis. The good news is that most sport pilots are exempt from this.

You instead go by the restrictions on your U.S. driver’s license (i.e. – if you need corrective lenses for driving, you are expected to wear them for flying as well) and you self-certify that you meet the requirements for being a safe pilot.

Now, we said “most” sport pilots are exempt because in a few cases, you will still need to see an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) for a medical exam and certification.

If any of the following circumstances apply to you, you will need to obtain a medical certificate:

• You have previously applied for a medical certificate and your most recent application was denied
• You have previously held a medical certificate and your most recently issued medical certificate was suspended or revoked
• You have a known medical condition which may negatively impact your ability to safely operate a light-sport aircraft

If you need to get a medical certificate, log into MedXPress to begin the application process. Next, locate an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and book an appointment.

The AME will review your application, ask you some questions and conduct a medical examination to determine whether you are medically qualified to fly. Assuming you are, the AME will then issue you a medical certificate.

4.      Complete ground training

For your training, you can choose a specific certified flight instructor (CFI) or sign up with a pilot school. Your instructor or school will provide you with ground training on operational, aeronautical, meteorological, and procedural topics. Ground school prepares you to take your written exam and gives you the baseline knowledge you will need before you get in the air.

5.      Take and pass your FAA written exam

This may be the entry-level pilot certificate, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to prove your knowledge. Would-be sport pilots must study for and pass a written test that demonstrates their academic understanding of important principles, concepts, procedures and regulations.

6.      Flight training

Now that you’ve passed your written test, you’re ready to apply what you’ve learned and gain real-world skills.

You will need to attend a flight school or receive flight training and log a minimum of 20 hours of flight time before you are eligible to take your check ride, although the average student takes closer to 33 hours before their CFI is ready to sign them off for the test. Fifteen of these hours must be with an instructor and you must have at least five hours of solo flight time before testing.

7.      Check ride

Once your meet your training minimums and your CFI feels you are ready, he or she will sign off on your skills and help you schedule your check ride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE).

The DPE will administer a verbal and practical exam, often referred to as a check ride. Make sure to have your medical, all required documentation, and your driver's license. This is your day to prove you have mastered the skills and gained the knowledge needed to be a safe sport pilot.

Prove your competency to the examiner and once the test is over, they will help you to submit your final paperwork to the FAA so you are officially a licensed sport pilot.

Pick up a copy of Gleim 2023 Sport Pilot FAA Knowledge Test to start preparing for your written exam today.

Gleim 2023 Sport Pilot FAA Knowledge Test With its Sport Pilot FAA Knowledge Test book, Gleim continues its popular series of training tools designed to help users ace the FAA written exam. To facilitate its focus on the Sport Pilot knowledge test, all extraneous material is excluded from this book. In its place, users will find every question currently contained in the FAA's test question data bank.