How to Acquire Sport Pilot Privileges

New Pilot Candidate who does not have any FAA pilot certificate

• Start your ground and ground/flight training with the on-line training for airplane or on-line training for WSC Trike.
• Start ground and/or flight training from a CFI to be a Sport Pilot.
• Obtain student pilot certificate to Solo by applying at https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra/Login.aspx, have a CFI approve it with your driver’s license. This goes in to TSA for a security check, then the FAA issues a temporary student pilot certificate with email in about one or two weeks. The green plastic FAA Student Pilot Certificate is mailed to you soon after.
• Obtain medical eligibility by using your driver’s license for sport pilot or get an FAA medical if you want to go for private pilot with an FAA Medical Examiner (AME) for a 3rd class FAA medical.
• Have CFI endorse logbook for make/model and provide appropriate logbook limitations to solo.
• Receive endorsement to take knowledge test. (This is typically through Prepware home/self study course or it can be obtained from a CFI.)
• Pass FAA knowledge test (computer based typically known as “written” test) at an FAA approved/certified FAA testing facility such as CATS Testing.
• Meet the knowledge and flight proficiency requirements in 61.309 thru 61.313 from a Sport Pilot CFI. The minimum is 20 hours flight time which is 15 hours of dual instruction and 5 hours of solo. It usually takes more than the minimum to become a qualified and safe pilot.  Industry averages is 35 hours of flight training. All training logged must be in an N numbered aircraft.
• Receive and log 2 hours dual training for the checkride 60 days before your checkride (practical test) and obtain endorsements for practical test from Sport Pilot CFI on form 8710-11 or through www.IACRA. FAA .GOV. Sport Aviation Center has additional CFI’s for airplane and weight-shift control trike for this endorsement).
• Pass practical test with DPE/SPE. (Paul Hamilton is a DPE/SPE for airplane and weight-shift control trike) Click here to find a DPE. (Chose from the “Examiner Listing” at bottom of page.)
• Receive FAA Sport Pilot Certificate and logbook endorsement for category/class of aircraft used for practical test (speed endorsement is required and should be obtained before checkride so it does not have to be obtained after checkride).

An Ultralight pilot or applicant using ultralight experience who does not have any FAA pilot certificate

A Pilot who has an FAA pilot certificate (Recreational or higher) with or without a medical

• Meet medical requirements: Can use drivers’ license or FAA medical to meet medical eligibility. Typically this is done with drivers license.
• Have current biennial flight review in any civil aircraft you are qualified in. (Same as Private Pilot currency.)
• Must have three takeoffs and landings within 90 days in the category/class Light Sport aircraft logged if you want to carry a passenger in that LSA category/class (Same as Private Pilot currency.)
• Using Driver’s license as medical eligibility – limitations per 61.303 (2).
  • Operate only LSA category/class same as airplane category/class per 61.303 (2) (ii) , or logbook endorsement for additional LSA category/class per 61.303 (2) (iii)
  • Operate LSA with sport pilot limitations per 61.315 (10,000 feet MSL/2000 feet AGL, 3 miles visibility, no night, etc.), but NOT required to have the airspeed or airspace B, C,& D endorsements.
• Using FAA minimum 3rd class medical as medical eligibility – privileges.
  • Operate only LSA category/class same as airplane category/class, or logbook endorsement for additional LSA category/class per 61.303 (1) (ii). Do NOT have to comply with any Sport Pilot limitations per 61.315. (You’re using your Private Pilot certificate to fly LSA with private pilot privileges just like any other airplane.)

• In adding a new category, (Airplane to WSC trike or WSC Trike to Airplane), best to go back and review all aspects of current regulations, airspace and sport pilot privileges/limitations  for airplane or WSC trike with on-line course airplanes or on-line course for WSC Trikes.
• Meet medical requirements: Can use drivers license or FAA medical to meet medical eligibility.
• Per 61.321 – receive logbook endorsement for areas trained for knowledge per 61.309 and skill per 61.311 with CFI. Get recommendation, from this CFI, on form 8710-11 for new category and/or class sought.
• Successfully complete proficiency check per PTS with another CFI (other than the CFI who originally trained and gave the recommendation) and submit 8710-11 form to FAA for new category and/or class added.
• Be current or get a current biennial flight review in any civil aircraft. (A proficiency check now counts as a flight review.
• Must have three takeoffs and landings within 90 days in the category/class Light Sport aircraft logged if you want to carry a passenger in that LSA category/class.
• Driver’s license medical eligibility – limitations. Operate only LSA category/class same as airplane category/class, or logbook endorsement for additional LSA category/class per 61.303 (2) (iii). Operate LSA with sport pilot limitations per 61.315 (10,000 feet MSL/2000AGL, 3 miles visibility, no night, etc.) but NOT required to have the airspeed or airspace B, C,& D endorsements.
• FAA minimum 3rd class medical privileges. Operate only LSA category/class same as airplane category/class, or logbook endorsement for additional LSA category/class. If proficiency check was for Sport Pilot with a CFI, must comply with Sport Pilot limitations same as when using drivers license for medical eligibility 61.303 (1) (iii). If checkride was with a DPE for Private Pilot privileges, you do NOT have to comply with any Sport Pilot limitations per 61.315.