What Is the Purpose of This Subpart? Requirements — 14 CFR § 61.401

Regulation Text

§ 61.401 What is the purpose of this subpart?

(a) This part prescribes the following requirements that apply to a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating:

(1) Eligibility.

(2) Aeronautical knowledge.

(3) Flight proficiency.

(4) Endorsements.

(5) Privileges and limits.

(b) Other provisions of this part apply to the logging of flight time and testing.

[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-125, 75 FR 5222, Feb. 1, 2010]

The short answer

(14 CFR § 61.401) states the purpose of the subpart for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating. It prescribes the eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, flight proficiency, endorsement, and privilege-and-limit requirements for that instructor certificate.

Research Notes

CFI Commentary

Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.

Common Questions

What requirements does this instructor subpart prescribe?

Five requirement areas for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating. The rule states:

“This part prescribes the following requirements that apply to a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating: (1) Eligibility. (2) Aeronautical knowledge. (3) Flight proficiency. (4) Endorsements. (5) Privileges and limits.” — 14 CFR § 61.401(a)

How is this subpart different from the sport pilot subpart in § 61.301?

Section 61.301 lists six requirement areas for the sport pilot certificate (including aeronautical experience), while § 61.401 lists five areas for the instructor certificate and omits a separate aeronautical-experience item. Per paragraph (b), other Part 61 provisions still apply to logging of flight time and testing.

Amendment History

2010-01-01

AOA Notes

These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.

Pro Tip: Subpart K Is Self-Contained — But Not Completely

The most important thing to understand about Subpart K is its scope: it tells you what applies specifically to sport pilot instructors, but it explicitly points back to other Part 61 sections for logging and testing standards. That means when you're logging instruction time as a sport pilot instructor, you follow the same logging rules as any other flight instructor. Don't make the mistake of treating Subpart K as a completely separate universe — it's a specialized track within the larger Part 61 framework.

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AOA's Decoded pages are plain-English interpretation for training and reference. They are not legal advice and do not replace the official regulation. Always confirm current requirements against the authoritative source before acting.

What Is the Purpose of This Subpart?