Regulation Text
§ 61.429 May I exercise the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating if I hold a flight instructor certificate with another rating?
If you hold a flight instructor certificate, a commercial pilot certificate with an airship rating, or a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating issued under this part, and you seek to exercise the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, you may do so without any further showing of proficiency, subject to the following limits:
(a) You are limited to the aircraft category and class ratings listed on your flight instructor certificate, commercial pilot certificate with an airship rating, or commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating, as appropriate, when exercising your flight instructor privileges and the privileges specified in § 61.413.
(b) You must comply with the limits specified in § 61.415 and the recordkeeping requirements of § 61.423.
(c) If you want to exercise the privileges of your flight instructor certificate in a category or class of light-sport aircraft for which you are not currently rated, you must meet all applicable requirements to provide training in an additional category or class of light-sport aircraft specified in § 61.419.
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42562, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-125, 75 FR 5222, Feb. 1, 2010]
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.429 Traditional CFI and Sport Pilot Instructor Privileges
The Core Permission — Yes, with Conditions
§ 61.429 answers a question that many traditional CFIs ask when they start working with light-sport aircraft students: do they need a separate sport pilot instructor certificate? The answer is no — a flight instructor certificate holder (traditional CFI under Subpart H) may exercise sport pilot instructor privileges without a separate sport pilot instructor certificate, provided certain conditions are met.
Conditions for Traditional CFI to Exercise Sport Pilot Instructor Privileges
The traditional CFI may provide sport pilot flight instruction if they: (1) hold the appropriate category and class flight instructor privileges for the aircraft being flown; (2) the aircraft is a light-sport aircraft within the category/class on the CFI's certificate; and (3) the instruction is consistent with the CFI's existing privileges. A traditional CFI with an airplane single-engine land rating can provide sport pilot flight instruction in a light-sport airplane without adding a sport pilot instructor certificate.
Amendment History — 2010 Clarification
Amended by Amdt. 61-125 (75 FR 5222, Feb. 1, 2010), which clarified the relationship between traditional flight instructor privileges and sport pilot instructor activities. Prior to this clarification, some ambiguity existed about whether traditional CFIs needed to add a sport pilot rating to instruct in LSA. The amendment resolved that ambiguity in favor of allowing traditional CFIs to instruct in LSA within their existing privileges.
Medical Certificate Implications
When a traditional CFI provides dual instruction in a light-sport aircraft, the flight is governed by § 91.109 regardless of LSA category. The instructor must hold an appropriate medical certificate or qualify under BasicMed (§ 61.23). A sport pilot student may operate solo under sport pilot medical self-certification, but when the CFI is aboard providing dual instruction, the CFI's medical status controls the flight.
Practical Scenario — CFI Considering Sport Pilot Instruction
A traditional airplane CFI with single-engine land and sea ratings can instruct in any light-sport airplane — land or sea — without a separate sport pilot instructor certificate. This is the provision that makes Subpart K optional for most traditional CFIs who simply want to expand into the LSA training market.
Amendment History
AOA Notes
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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.