Regulation Text
§ 61.411 What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
Use the following table to determine the experience you must have for each aircraft category and class:
If you are applying for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot ratingfor . . . Then you must log at least . . . Which must include at least . . . (a) Airplane category and single-engine class privileges, (1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot, (i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a single-engine airplane,
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country flight time,
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country flight time in a single-engine airplane, and (v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a single-engine airplane that is a light-sport aircraft. (b) Glider category privileges, (1) 25 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a glider, 100 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is a light-sport aircraft, or
(2) 100 hours in heavier-than-air aircraft, 20 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is a light-sport aircraft (c) Rotorcraft category and gyroplane class privileges, (1) 125 hours of flight time as a pilot, (i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a gyroplane, (iii) 10 hours of cross-country flight time, (iv) 3 hours of cross-country flight time in a gyroplane, and (v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a gyroplane that is a light-sport aircraft. (d) Lighter-than-air category and airship class privileges, (1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot, (i) 40 hours of flight time in an airship,
(ii) 20 hours of pilot in command time in an airship, (iii) 10 hours of cross-country flight time, (iv) 5 hours of cross-country flight time in an airship, and (v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in an airship that is a light-sport aircraft. (e) Lighter-than-air category and balloon class privileges, (1) 35 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command, (i) 20 hours of flight time in a balloon,
(ii) 10 flights in a balloon, and (iii) 5 flights as pilot in command in a balloon that is a light-sport aircraft. (f) Weight-shift-control aircraft category privileges, (1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot, (i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a weight-shift-control aircraft, (iii) 25 hours of cross-country flight time, (iv) 10 hours of cross-country flight time in a weight-shift-control aircraft, and (v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a weight-shift-control aircraft that is a light-sport aircraft. (g) Powered-parachute category privileges, (1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot, (i) 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a powered parachute, (iii) 15 hours of cross-country flight time, (iv) 5 hours of cross-country flight time in a powered parachute, and (v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a powered parachute that is a light-sport aircraft.
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.411 Aeronautical Experience
Experience Framework
§ 61.411 establishes minimum flight time requirements for sport pilot instructor applicants, organized by aircraft category. These requirements are generally lighter than the equivalent flight instructor experience requirements under § 61.183 for traditional CFIs, reflecting the more limited operating scope of light-sport aircraft.
Comparison to Traditional CFI Experience Requirements
Under § 61.183, a traditional CFI applicant (airplane) must hold a commercial pilot certificate (which itself requires 250 hours total time and specific cross-country/PIC time). A sport pilot instructor applicant does not need a commercial certificate and therefore enters through a lower total-time pathway. The experience requirements in § 61.411 set a direct minimum without the commercial certificate prerequisite that traditionally served as an experience proxy.
Key Experience Categories
Total time, pilot-in-command time in the applicable aircraft category and class, and cross-country flight time requirements are specified by category. Applicants should consult the specific paragraphs of § 61.411 for the aircraft category they seek to instruct in, as the numbers vary. The AC 61-65K endorsement language templates are calibrated to these experience requirements.
Logbook Documentation Requirement
All experience must be documented in the applicant's logbook before the practical test. Logbook entries must include date, aircraft make and model, aircraft type and registration number, points of departure and arrival, type of pilot experience (solo, PIC, SIC, dual, etc.), flight conditions, and total flight time. Deficient logbook documentation is a common reason applicants are not eligible to test. See § 61.51 for logging standards.
Amendment History
AOA Notes
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CFI Commentary
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