Regulations last checked for updates: May 01, 2025

Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space last revised: Apr 02, 2025
§ 61.411 - What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

Use the following table to determine the experience you must have for each aircraft category and class:

If you are applying for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating
for . . .
Then you must log at least . . . Which must include at least . . .
(a) Airplane category and single-engine class privileges,(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a single-engine airplane,
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country time,
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country time in a single-engine airplane, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a single-engine airplane that is a light-sport aircraft.
(b) Glider category privileges,(1) 25 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a glider, 100 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is a light-sport aircraft, or
(2) 100 hours in heavier-than-air aircraft, 20 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is a light-sport aircraft
(c) Rotorcraft category and gyroplane class privileges,(1) 125 hours of flight time as a pilot,(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a gyroplane,
(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
(iv) 3 hours of cross-country time in a gyroplane, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a gyroplane that is a light-sport aircraft.
(d) Lighter-than-air category and airship class privileges,(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,(i) 40 hours of flight time in an airship,
(ii) 20 hours of pilot in command time in an airship,
(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in an airship, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in an airship that is a light-sport aircraft.
(e) Lighter-than-air category and balloon class privileges,(1) 35 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command,(i) 20 hours of flight time in a balloon,
(ii) 10 flights in a balloon, and
(iii) 5 flights as pilot in command in a balloon that is a light-sport aircraft.
(f) Weight-shift-control aircraft category privileges,(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a weight-shift-control aircraft,
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country time,
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country time in a weight-shift-control aircraft, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a weight-shift-control aircraft that is a light-sport aircraft.
(g) Powered-parachute category privileges,(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,(i) 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a powered parachute,
(iii) 15 hours of cross-country time,
(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in a powered parachute, and
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a powered parachute that is a light-sport aircraft.
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by FAA-2023-1275; Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024]
authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302; Sec. 2307, Pub. L. 114-190, 130 Stat. 615 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); sec. 318, Pub. L. 115-254, 132 Stat. 3186 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); sec. 820, Pub. L. 118-63, 138 Stat. 1330 (49 U.S.C. 44939 note); secs. 815 and 828, Pub. L. 118-63, 138 Stat. 1328, 1336 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note)
source: Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 14 CFR 61.411