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Sport Pilots:1
• Must be 16 to become a student sport pilot (14 for glider).
• Must be 17 to test for a sport pilot certificate (16 for gliders).
• Must be able to read, write, and understand English.
• Must hold a current airman medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver's license as evidence of medical eligibility (provided the FAA didn't deny, revoke, or suspend the pilot's last medical certificate application).
• Must pass an FAA sport pilot knowledge (written) test.
• Must pass an FAA sport pilot practical (flight) test.

Minimum required training time for sport pilots:
• Airplane: 20 hours
• Powered Parachute: 12 hours
• Weight-Shift-Control (Trikes): 20 hours
• Glider: 10 hours
• Rotorcraft (gyroplane only): 20 hours
• Lighter-Than-Air: 20 hours (airship) or 7 hours (balloon)

Restrictions for sport pilots:
• No flights into Class B, C, or D airspace unless you receive training and obtain a logbook endorsement.
• No flights outside the United States without advance permission from that country.
• No sightseeing flights with passengers for charity fundraisers.
• No flights above 10,000 feet MSL
• Daytime flight only; no night flights.
• No flights when the flight or surface visibility is less than 3 statute miles.
• No flights unless you can see the surface of the earth for flight reference.
• No flights while carrying a passenger or property for compensation or hire (no commercial operations).

Light-Sport Aircraft:
• Maximum gross takeoff weight: 1,320 Ibs (599 kg), 1,430 Ibs for seaplanes. Maximum stall speed: 51 mph (45 knots)
• Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (VH): 138 mph
• Two-place maximum (pilot and one passenger)
• Single, non-turbine engine only, includes rotary or diesel engines
• Fixed- or ground-adjustable propeller
• Unpressurized cabin
• Fixed landing gear. Repositionable landing gear for seaplanes allowing the wheels to be rotated for amphibious operation.
• Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) certification. Aircraft must meet consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
• Can be certificated as an experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) if kit - or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
• Can be certificated as an experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) if it was kit- or plans-built and operated as an ultralight trainer. Aircraft must be transitioned to the E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008.
• Will have FAA registration (an N number).
• Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control (Trike Land/Sea), and Powered Parachute.
• U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
• Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meets the above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, that airworthiness certification category will not be changed to a light-sport aircraft. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
• May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.209 and the pilot holds at least a private pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical certificate.

 

[1] Taken from EAA SportPilot & Light Sport Aircraft magazine, January 2005 issue

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Last modified: 01/01/09