Part 61 J: Sport Pilots
- Must be 17 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
- Pass a knowledge test and practical test
- US driver's license, FAA medical, or BasicMed
Knowledge Areas (61.309)
- Give ground instruction or review home study course for:
- Applicable FARs relating to sport pilots, limits, and flight operations
- Accident reporting requirements of the NTSB
- Use of the applicable portions of the AIM and FAA advisory circulars
- Aeronautical charts for VFR navigation, pilotage, dead reckoning, navigation systems
- Critical weather situations, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
- Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance, and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence
- Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance
- Weight and balance computations
- Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems
- Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques, as applicable
- Aeronautical decision making and risk management
- Preflight actions, including:
- Runway lengths, takeoff and landing distances, weather reports, forecasts, and fuel requirements
- Plan for alternatives
Flight Proficiency Requirements (61.311)
Aeronautical Experience (61.313)
- No exception for small island
- 20 hours total flight time
- 15 hours flight time in single-engine airplane
- 2 hours XC flight training
- 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop
- 2 hours of flight training within 2 calendar months for checkride preparation
- 5 hours of solo flight time
- One solo XC flight of at least 75nm with full-stop takeoffs and landings at three points, one segment is at least 25nm
Privileges and Limitations (61.315)
- Share expenses on a pro rata basis
- Fly an airplane with a light sport designation, OR a certified airplane below the weight limit for sport
- Cannot fly:
- For compensation or hire
- In the furtherance of a business
- With more than 1 passenger
- At night (end of civil twilight to morning civil twilight)
- In Class A airspace
- In Class B, C, D airspace, unless endorsed
- Outside of the US
- Demonstrate as a salesperson
- In a passenger-carrying capacity for a charitable organization
- At altitudes higher than 10,000 MSL or 2000 AGL, whichever is higher
- With surface visibility less than 3sm
- Without visual reference to the surface
- Aircraft restrictions:
- Vh must be less than 87 KCAS (max speed in level flight with max continuous power)
- Contrary to any operating limitations
- Contrary to any restriction on their driver's license
- Can't tow anything
- Can't be a crew member on an airplane that requires more than one crew member
Certificate Issuance and Airspace (61.317)
- Don't hold a category/class rating
- Authorizations are all done by endorsement
- Training for an additional category or class:
- Receive a logbook endorsement from your primary instructor
- Complete a proficiency check with a different sport pilot instructor
- They will complete an 8710-11 and send it to the FAA
- They will give the endorsement
- One-time endorsement to operate in Class B, C, or D airspace (AC 61-65 A.22)
- This is good for all Class B airspace
- Flying a sport aircraft with a Vh less than or more than 87 KCAS requires an endorsement
Endorsements
- AC 61-65 A.18: Ready to take a proficiency check for a different category or class (done by the primary instructor)
- AC 61-65 A.19: Proficiency check for a different category or class (done by the check instructor)
- AC 61-65 A.22: Authorization to fly in Class B, C, D airspace
- AC 61-65 A.23: Authorization to fly an aircraft with a Vh less than 87 KCAS
- AC 61-65 A.24: Authorization to fly an aircraft with a Vh greater than 87 KCAS
PTS
Sport Pilot PTS