Regulation Text
§ 61.415 What are the limits of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
If you hold a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, you may only provide flight training in a light-sport aircraft and are subject to the following limits:
(a) You may not provide ground or flight training in any aircraft for which you do not hold:
(1) A sport pilot certificate with applicable category and class privileges or a pilot certificate with the applicable category and class rating; and
(2) Applicable category and class privileges for your flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating.
(b) You may not provide ground or flight training for a private pilot certificate with a powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft rating unless you hold:
(1) At least a private pilot certificate with the applicable category and class rating; and
(2) Applicable category and class privileges for your flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating.
(c) You may not conduct more than 8 hours of flight training in any 24-consecutive-hour period.
(d) You may not endorse a:
(1) Student pilot's logbook for solo flight privileges, unless you have—
(i) Given that student the flight training required for solo flight privileges required by this part; and
(ii) Determined that the student is prepared to conduct the flight safely under known circumstances, subject to any limitations listed in the student's logbook that you consider necessary for the safety of the flight.
(2) Student pilot's logbook for a solo cross-country flight, unless you have determined the student's flight preparation, planning, equipment, and proposed procedures are adequate for the proposed flight under the existing conditions and within any limitations listed in the logbook that you consider necessary for the safety of the flight.
(3) Student pilot's logbook for solo flight in Class B, C, and D airspace areas, at an airport within Class B, C, or D airspace and to from, through or on an airport having an operational control tower, unless you have—
(i) Given that student ground and flight training in that airspace or at that airport; and
(ii) Determined that the student is proficient to operate the aircraft safely.
(4) Logbook of a pilot for a flight review, unless you have conducted a review of that pilot in accordance with the requirements of § 61.56.
(e) You may not provide training to operate a light-sport aircraft in Class B, C, and D airspace, at an airport located in Class B, C, or D airspace, and to, from, through, or at an airport having an operational control tower, unless you have the endorsement specified in § 61.325, or are otherwise authorized to conduct operations in this airspace and at these airports.
(f) You may not provide training in a light-sport aircraft that is an airplane with a VH less than or equal to 87 knots CAS unless you have the endorsement specified in § 61.327 (a), or are otherwise authorized to operate that light-sport aircraft.
(g) You may not provide training in a light-sport aircraft with a VH greater than 87 knots CAS unless you have the endorsement specified in § 61.327 (b), or are otherwise authorized to operate that light-sport aircraft.
(h) You may not provide training on the control and maneuvering of an aircraft solely by reference to the instruments in a light sport airplane with a Vh greater than 87 knots CAS unless you meet the requirements in § 61.412.
(i) You must perform all training in an aircraft that complies with the requirements of § 91.109 of this chapter.
(j) If you provide flight training for a certificate, rating or privilege, you must provide that flight training in an aircraft that meets the following:
(1) The aircraft must have at least two pilot stations and be of the same category and class appropriate to the certificate, rating or privilege sought.
(2) For single place aircraft, pre-solo flight training must be provided in an aircraft that has two pilot stations and is of the same category and class appropriate to the certificate, rating, or privilege sought.
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-125, 75 FR 5222, Feb. 1, 2010; Amdt. 61-125A, 75 FR 15610, Mar. 30, 2010; Docket FAA-2010-1127, Amdt. 61-135, 81 FR 1307, Jan. 12, 2016; Amdt. 61-142, 83 FR 30280, June 27, 2018]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.415 Sport Pilot Instructor Limitations
Core Limitations
§ 61.415 imposes several key limitations on sport pilot instructor privileges that are more restrictive than general CFI limitations. These limitations reflect the LSA operational context and ensure instructors don't exceed their category/class scope.
Amendment History — 2016 Revision
This section was amended by Amdt. 61-135 (81 FR 1696, Jan. 13, 2016). The amendments clarified limitations in the context of evolving LSA and BasicMed regulations. Always reference the current version at eCFR § 61.415.
Category and Class Limitation Enforcement
Sport pilot instructors may only provide instruction in the specific category and class for which they hold privileges. This means you must hold separate instructor privileges for each category/class you teach in. The FAA enforces this through certificate action when instructors exceed their scope — operating outside category/class privileges can trigger a certificate action under § 61.59.
Prohibition on Instrument Instruction (Beyond § 61.412)
A sport pilot instructor may not provide training for an instrument rating. Instrument training (for an instrument rating or instrument currency) requires a CFII certificate under Subpart H. The § 61.412 training provision is limited to basic instrument maneuvering training in the LSA context, not instrument rating instruction.
Night Flight Instruction Limitation
Sport pilot certificates do not authorize night flight. As a result, sport pilot instructors cannot provide night instruction within their sport pilot instructor privileges. Any night instruction would fall outside the LSA scope entirely and would require separate flight instructor qualifications under Subpart H.
FAR/AIM Cross-Reference
§ 61.35 (Knowledge test prerequisites) and § 61.51 (Pilot logbooks) continue to apply to sport pilot instructors for testing and logging purposes. § 91.109 (Flight instruction; Simulated instrument flight and certain flight tests) applies to any dual instruction provided in LSA.
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.
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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.