Regulation Text
§ 61.413 What are the privileges of my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
(a) If you hold a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, you are authorized, within the limits of your certificate and rating, to provide training and endorsements that are required for, and relate to—
(1) A student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate;
(2) A sport pilot certificate;
(3) A flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating;
(4) A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft rating;
(5) Sport pilot privileges;
(6) A flight review or operating privilege for a sport pilot;
(7) A practical test for a sport pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate with a powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft rating or a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating;
(8) A knowledge test for a sport pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate with a powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft rating or a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating; and
(9) A proficiency check for an additional category or class privilege for a sport pilot certificate or a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating.
(b) A person who holds a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating is authorized, in a form and manner acceptable to the Administrator, to:
(1) Accept an application for a student pilot certificate or, for an applicant who holds a pilot certificate (other than a student pilot certificate) issued under part 61 of this chapter and meets the flight review requirements specified in § 61.56, a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating;
(2) Verify the identity of the applicant; and
(3) Verify that an applicant for a student pilot certificate meets the eligibility requirements in § 61.83.
[Docket FAA-2010-1127, Amdt. 61-135, 81 FR 1307, Jan. 12, 2016, as amended by Docket FAA-2015-0150, Amdt. 61-137, 81 FR 42208, June 28, 2016]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.413 Sport Pilot Instructor Privileges
Core Instructional Privileges
§ 61.413 defines what a sport pilot instructor may do with their certificate. The privileges include: providing flight training, providing ground training, endorsing a student pilot's logbook for solo flight privileges, endorsing a sport pilot certificate applicant's logbook for knowledge test and practical test authorization, and endorsing a logbook for additional category/class privileges under § 61.419.
Amendment History — 2016 Revision
This section was amended by Amdt. 61-135 (81 FR 1696, Jan. 13, 2016) to clarify sport pilot instructor privileges in the context of BasicMed and evolving light-sport aircraft regulations. Instructors should confirm they are reading the current version of the section at eCFR § 61.413.
Endorsement Authority
A sport pilot instructor's endorsement authority is specifically tied to sport pilot operations. They cannot endorse for private pilot practical tests, commercial certificates, or instrument ratings. The endorsements are category/class specific — an instructor with weight-shift control privileges can only endorse students in weight-shift control aircraft.
Advisory Circular Reference
Specific endorsement language for all sport pilot instructor endorsements is provided in AC 61-65K, Appendix D. Using the prescribed language from the AC is not mandatory but is strongly recommended to ensure the endorsement will be accepted by examiners and the FAA.
Sport Pilot Instructor vs. Traditional CFI
A key distinction: a traditional CFI may provide instruction in light-sport aircraft regardless of whether they hold a sport pilot instructor certificate (§ 61.429). A sport pilot instructor certificate does not authorize instruction in aircraft that are not light-sport aircraft. The privilege flows in one direction only — LSA operations.
Amendment History
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.
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.