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Getting a sport pilot certificate is the fastest way to start piloting airplanes. Although there are restrictions on when and what you can fly, this license is a great way to get started on your flying adventure. This guide will show you the steps you need to take in order to become a sport pilot.
- (Creative Commons photo by Dave Miller)
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Introduction
- Have you always dreamed of soaring through the sky, piloting an airplane, but you don't know where to begin? A sport pilot's license will authorize you to fly light sport aircraft. These are single-engine planes that must weigh under 1,320 pounds. Such aircraft aren't able to fly everywhere, but they're a great way to take short trips. Read on to learn if getting a sport pilot certificate is for you.
The Basics of a Sport Pilot Certificate
- Don't confuse becoming a sport pilot with getting a private or recreational pilot certificate. Although some of the requirements are the same for the different certificates (you must be 17 and able to read and write English to get any pilot certificate), there are big differences between the different types of licenses.
- Sport Pilot
- Training time: 20 hours.
- Can only fly light sport aircraft.
- Can only carry one passenger.
- Must fly below 10,000 feet.
- Can only fly during the day.
- Good for: Pilots on a budget. Sport planes are less expensive aircraft—and getting a sport pilot license takes less time. However, the restrictions (type of aircraft, limit to one passenger) may be constraining for many potential pilots. If you don't have a lot of time or money and just want to fly for fun, this is a great choice.
- Recreational Pilot
- Training time: 30 hours.
- Must get medical certificate before you can fly solo.
- Limited to daytime flights.
- Permitted only one passenger.
- Must only fly single-engine planes.
- No long trips: must remain within 50 nautical miles of your home airport (where you took lessons).
- Cannot fly in airspace where air traffic control communications are needed.
- Good for: People who want to fly short trips near their home base, and who will appreciate the savings that come with a shorter training period. Plus, if you decide later you want to change your certification, you'll already be well on your way—you can apply your recreational pilot hours to getting your private pilot's license.
- Visit Mahalo's guide to getting your recreational pilot certificate for more information.
- Private Pilot
- Training time: 40 hours, although many students fly up to 70 hours before getting certified.
- The required time drops to 35 hours in an FAA-approved school, but since most students take more than 40 hours of training anyway, the reduced licensing time is often moot.
- Must get medical certificate to fly solo.
- No limit on aircraft, number of passengers, or when you can fly (although some flying conditions may require you to have additional training).
- Good for: Pilots who want to be able to fly where they want, what they want and when they want—and who do not have limits on the time and money they can spend to get a pilot's license.
- Visit Mahalo's guide to getting your private pilot certificate for more information.
Step 1: Check Your Fitness to Fly
- To become a sport pilot, you don't need a medical certificate attesting to your fitness: the only necessary document is a driver's license. But that doesn't mean you're exempt from the FAA's medical requirements for pilots.
- You may need to get special permission to fly if you suffer from diabetes, hypertension, or motion sickness.
- You can be disqualified for conditions such as: having a pacemaker; epilepsy; or coronary heart disease.
- Check the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)'s list of the FAA's medical requirements for more details.
Step 2: Find a Flight School
- Once you know you're fit to fly, it's time to find someone to teach you how to do it!
- Check AOPA's flight school directory and flight instructor listings.
- Or look at the FAA's listing of flight schools.
- When you find nearby schools, call and ask if they have light sport aircraft and certified sport pilot instructors.
- Then check their instructional rates: usually you'll pay the instructor and pay an hourly rental fee for your aircraft.
- Once you find a school and know the rates you'll be paying, use this calculator to figure out how much you'll need to pay for your lessons.
- Although a sports pilot certificate only requires 20 hours of flight time, many students take more time in the air.
- If you need help paying for lessons, AOPA has resources that may help you find a loan or scholarship.
Step 3: Your Training
- Your instructor will show you how to pilot your plane (and will be the one to decide when you're ready to fly solo!). But learning to fly isn't all fun and games in the air: you will need to take a knowledge test to get your sport pilot certificate.
- You'll have 20 hours of training: at least 15 hours with your instructor and 5 hours of solo flight.
- Many student pilots need more than the minimum hours of instruction before they're ready be certified.
- Your instructor will give you an endorsement certificate when you're ready to fly on your own.
- To get your license, an FAA examiner will administer a practical test where you demonstrate your proficiency in your plane and your knowledge during an oral exam.
- You can review the FAA's practical test standards requirements to prepare.
- You also need to take a knowledge test to get your license.
- The FAA has materials you can download to help you study for your test.
- You can find a location to take your knowledge test on this FAA file .
Step 4: You Have Your Sport Pilot License
- Congratulations! You've now got a certicate and can fly on your own. Now you just need to find a plane!
- Many pilots rent planes from the same airport where they took their lessons.
- You may also consider joining a flying club. The club owns planes; members pay dues and then rental fees when they want to fly.
- Or, if you have the money, you can always buy your own plane! One good thing about being a sport pilot is being able to pilot less expensive aircraft.
- AOPA states that operating costs for a private airplane can run between $2,000 and $8,000 per year.
- Whatever method you choose, make sure you stay up-to-date with refresher training and flight reviews, so that your pilot license remains valid.
