NAPPF
Sport Pilot
Aeronautical Experience Required for a Sport Pilot Certificate
§61.313 What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a sport pilot
certificate?
Except as specified in §61.329, use the following table to determine the
aeronautical experience you must have to apply for a sport pilot certificate:
(a) Airplane category and single-engine land or sea
class privileges
(1) 20 hours of flight time, including at least 15 hours of flight
training from an authorized instructor in a single‑engine airplane and at least
5 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.311
(i) 2 hours of cross-country flight training,
(ii) 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop (with each
landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport;
(iii) One solo cross‑country flight of at least
75 nautical miles total distance, with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two
points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of
at least 25 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations, and
(iv) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(b) Glider category privileges and you have not
logged at least 20 hours of flight time in a heavier‑than-air aircraft,
(1) 10 hours of flight time in a glider, including 10 flights in a
glider receiving flight training from an authorized instructor and at least
2 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.311,
(i) Five solo launches and landings, and
(ii) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(c) Glider category privileges and you have
logged 20 hours flight time in a heavier-than-air aircraft,
(1) 3 hours of flight time in a glider, including five flights in a
glider while receiving flight training from an authorized instructor and at
least 1 hour of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in
§ 61.311,
(i) Three solo launches and landings, and
(ii) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(d) Rotorcraft category and gyroplane class
privileges,
(1) 20 hours of flight time, including 15 hours of flight training
from an authorized instructor in a gyroplane and at least 5 hours of solo flight
training in the areas of operation listed in §61.311,
(i) 2 hours of cross-country flight training,
(ii) 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop (with each
landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport,
(iii) One solo cross‑country flight of at least
50 nautical miles total distance, with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two
points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of
at least 25 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations, and
(iv) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(e) Lighter‑than‑air category and airship
class privileges,
(1) 20 hours of flight time, including 15 hours of flight training
from an authorized instructor in an airship and at least 3 hours performing the
duties of pilot in command in an airship with an authorized instructor in the
areas of operation listed in §61.311,
(i) 2 hours of cross-country flight training,
(ii) Three takeoffs and landings to a full stop (with
each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport,
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 25 nautical
miles between the takeoff and landing locations, and
(iv) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(f) Lighter-than-air category and balloon
class privileges,
(1) 7 hours of flight time in a balloon, including three flights
with an authorized instructor and one flight performing the duties of pilot in
command in a balloon with an authorized instructor in the areas of operation
listed in §61.311,
(i) 2 hours of cross-country flight training, and
(ii) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(g) Powered parachute category land or sea
class privileges,
(1) 12 hours of flight time in a powered parachute, including 10
hours flight training and, and at least 2 hours solo flight training in the
areas of operation listed in §61.311.
(i) 1 hour of cross-country flight training,
(ii) 20 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in a
powered parachute with each landing involving flight in the traffic pattern at
an airport;
(iii) 10 solo takeoffs and landings to a full stop
(with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport,
(iv) One solo flight with a landing at a different
airport and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of
at least 10 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations, and
(v) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.
(h) Weight-shift-control aircraft category
land or sea class privileges,
(1) 20 hours of flight time, including 15 hours of flight training
from an authorized instructor in a weight‑shift‑control aircraft and at least
5 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in
§61.311,
(i) 2 hours of cross-country flight training;
(ii) 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop (with each
landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport,
(iii) One solo cross-country flight of at least
50 nautical miles total distance, with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two
points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of
at least 25 nautical miles between takeoff and landing locations, and
(iv) 3 hours of flight training on those areas of
operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days
before the date of the test.