Jaunt Air

The sport pilot certificate, created in 2004, represented a major change in pilot certification requirements. As with the recreational certificate, sport pilot was created with the purpose of reducing both the difficulty and cost of obtaining a pilot certificate. But it was much more of a departure from the private pilot standards in that it also created an entirely new category of aircraft, the light sport (LSA). Pilots who acquire a light sport certificate may fly only aircraft certified as an LSA, but within that restriction, are granted more privileges than under the recreational certificate. As of January 2008, there were already 2,031 light sport pilots in the United States. The light sport certificate, in only few years, has become vastly more popular than the recreational certificate.

An applicant for a sport pilot certificate must pass a written examination and a practical examination. The practical examination is administered by an FAA examiner, and consists of an oral test and a flight test.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a sport pilot certificate, a person must be at least 17 years of age (or 16 for a glider or balloon rating). An applicant must also be able to read, write, and speak the English language, and must either hold a valid and current U.S. driver’s license or be able to pass a class III physical examination.

Flight Training

An applicant for a sport pilot license must have a minimum of 20 hours of logged flight time. At least 15 hours of the total must consist of dual instruction with a certified flight instructor, with the balance being no less than 5 hours of solo flight time.

The total flight hours required of a sport pilot applicant include the following specific training requirements:

• 2 hours of cross-country training
• One solo cross-country flight of at least 75 miles
• 3 hours of flight training specifically in preparation for taking the sport pilot practical exam

Privileges and Limitations

Sport pilots are limited to carrying only one passenger, and may not carry passengers or cargo for compensation or hire, or fly at night. Sport pilots may not act as pilot in command of any aircraft that is not certified as a light sport aircraft.

Cost of Obtaining a Sport Pilot Certificate

There are many variables that factor into the total cost of obtaining a sport pilot license. The type of airplane used for training and the total number of hours flown (very few students finish in the minimum required hours) will have a great impact upon the total cost. Also, in preparation for taking the written examination, some people are comfortable studying on their own, while others prefer paying for a ground school course of study. A reasonable ballpark estimate for obtaining a sport pilot certificate would be $3000 to $5000.