Existing CFI
These are the steps to take if you are an existing Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor ( CFIS 61 Subpart K ) who wants to instruct in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).
This also applies to a Private Pilot CFI (61, Subpart H) using a driver’s license as medical eligibility to operate as a Sport Pilot CFI (61, Subpart K).
You hold a current CFIS or CFI certificate with a specific category/class rating and you want to instruct in:
- The same LSA category/class endorsed in your logbook.
- A different LSA category/class endorsed in your logbook.
NOTE: If an FAA medical has been revoked, denied, withheld, or suspended, this requires a special issuance to clear the medical, before the driver’s license may be used as the medical eligibility. Any limitation on the driver’s license or FAA medical must be followed.
- Have a current driver’s license or FAA medical certificate.
- Are a current pilot (or get a biannual flight review) and are a current CFI/CFIS.
- Instruct only in the S-LSA category/class that you have instructor privileges in.
- Instruct and endorse for only what you are rated for. Example: If you are a Private Pilot CFI using your drivers license as medical eligibility, you can instruct and endorse B, C, and D airspace. If you are a Sport Pilot CFI with an airspace endorsement, you can also instruct and endorse airspace per 61.325.
- If you are a Sport Pilot Instructor CFIS you must comply with all Sport Pilot CFI privileges per 61.413, limitations per 61.415, and record keeping per 61.423.
- FAA Sport Pilot guidelines.
You hold a current CFIS or CFI certificate and you want to instruct in a different LSA category/class...
Example: You are currently endorsed for Airplane Single-Engine Land and want to instruct in Airplane Sea, Weight-shift control land, Powered Parachute, etc.
and you:
- Have a current driver’s license or FAA medical certificate.
- Are a current pilot (or get a biannual flight review) and are a current CFI/CFIS.
- First – get pilot privileges per 61.321 (be trained by one qualified CFI in the new category/class and take a proficiency check with another qualified CFI in the new category/class). This results in logbook endorsement and 8710-11 form sent into the FAA.
- Second – get CFI new category/class privileges per 61.409 for additional LSA in category/class (be trained by one qualified CFI in the new category/class and take a proficiency check with another qualified CFI in the new category/class). This results in logbook endorsement and 8710-11 form sent into the FAA.
- Instruct only in the S-LSA category/class that you have instructor privileges in.
- Instruct and endorse for only what you are rated for. Example: If you are a Private Pilot CFI using your driver’s license as medical eligibility, you can instruct and endorse B, C, and D airspace per 61.325. If you are a Sport Pilot CFI with airspace endorsement, you can instruct and endorse towered airspace per 61.325.
- If you are a Sport Pilot Instructor CFIS you must comply with all Sport Pilot CFI privileges per 61.413, limitations per 61.415, and record keeping per 61.423.
- FAA CFI guidelines.
If you are a Private Pilot CFI (subpart H) using a drivers' license (not FAA medical) as medical eligibility....
You can:
- Instruct pilots only in LSA and can recommend but can recommend them for a Sport or Private pilot checkride. Your training time counts towards a sport or private pilot certificate. However….
You can NOT instruct is areas you are not qualified specifically:
- Provide night flying/training.
- Provide IFR flying/training in IMC conditions (however IFR training is allowed if VFR and aircraft is properly equipped).