How to Acquire Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) Privileges
These are the steps to take to acquire the signoffs and endorsements for Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) privileges.
You will learn:
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NOTE: If an FAA medical has been revoked, denied, withheld, or suspended, this requires a special issuance to clear the medical, before the driver’s license may be used as the medical eligibility.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.
Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) Privileges
What is a certificated Sport Pilot Flight Instructor (CFIS)?
A Sport Pilot instructor has privileges similar to other FAA certificated flight instructors; however, he or she may only instruct in the category of light- sport aircraft in which he or she is qualified and operates under FAR 61 Subpart K rather than Subpart H. A CFIS may also perform proficiency checks to add a category or class to the certificate of an existing Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot CFIS.
Prerequisites to be a Sport Pilot CFI
The applicant must hold a sport pilot or higher pilot certificate with the category and class privileges as appropriate to the flight instructor privileges sought. The candidate must be at least 18 years old.Experience Requirements
Airplane and weight-shift-control category instructors need 150 hours of flight time as a pilot, which must include at least:
(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in category,
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country flight time,
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country flight time in category, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in category that is a
light-sport aircraft.
Additional Instructor Skills
Sport pilots must build additional skills in the Fundamentals of Instruction and Technical Subject Areas. All the sport pilot tasks must be mastered to:
- Perform the maneuvers and procedures at a higher level than the sport pilot tolerances.
- Have instructional knowledge of tasks.
- Have knowledge of common errors and be able to identify, analyze, and correct mistakes.
How to Acquire Certified Flight Instructor Privileges
New instructor candidate (who isn't an ultralight instructor)
- Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
- Receive training and endorsement from Sport Pilot CFI to take the computer based knowledge test and the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) tests.
- Pass the FOI test.
- Pass the CFI knowledge test for specific category.
- Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411. Time logged in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53 until January 31, 2008. However, the checkride must be in an N-numbered aircraft.
- Obtain and log training within 60 days before practical test.
- Obtain endorsement for practical test from Sport Pilot CFI in log book and on 8710-11 form.
- Pass CFI sport practical test with DPE/SPIE. Click here to find a DPE. (Chose from the "Examiner Listing" at bottom of page.)
- Receive Sport Pilot CFI Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for Practical test.
Ultralight Instructor who doesn't have a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, and wants to instruct in Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)
A. Ultralight instructor registered before 09-01-2004
- Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
- Request a letter from the ultralight organization you're registered with. The letter should state that you are a registered instructor, along with the type of aircraft you are registered to instruct in. It should also state if you have taken the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) test. (If your letter states that you have already taken the FOI test, you don't have to take it again.) This letter can take the place of a CFI endorsement until Jan. 31, 2008, as long as, you were a registered instructor in good standing as of Sept. 1, 2004. (This is needed for your CFI knowledge and checkride (practical exam) endorsements).
- Pass CFI written knowledge test (computer based) for specific category.
- Meet only time requirements of 61.411. Logged Ultralight time can be used for this.
- Fill out 8710-11 form and pass practical test with DPE/SPIE.
- Receive CFI Sport Pilot Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for Practical and aircraft types listed on ultralight organization endorsement letter.
B. Ultralight Instructor not registered with ultralight organization, or Ultralight instructor registered after 09-01-2004
- Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
- Obtain training and endorsement to take computer based knowledge test for category and Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) knowledge test..
- Pass FOI and computer based CFI knowledge test for specific category.
- Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411. Time logged in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53 until January 31, 2008. However the checkride must be in an N numbered aircraft.
- Obtain and log training within 60 days before Practical test. Obtain endorsement for Practical from Sport Pilot CFI in log book and on 8710-11 form.
- Pass Sport Pilot CFI checkride (practical test) with DPE/SPIE. Click here to find a DPE. (Chose from the "Examiner Listing" at bottom of page.)
- Receive Sport Pilot CFI Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for checkride.
Next: Hamilton Pilot Training System for Sport Pilot CFI Applicants
Article by Paul Hamilton, CFI, DPE, SPE SPIE, one of the first persons to receive Sport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificates in weight-shift control, land category, as well as, Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for Sport Pilots. Owner of Adventure Productions, Paul Hamilton produces entertainment, educational, and training resources for Ultralight and Sport Pilots that you can purchase at AP-Store.com.
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