Earning your sport pilot certificate is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to fly an aircraft for fun. Santa Monica Flyers, one of the top flight schools in the Los Angeles area, offers courses that get you on your way to earning a sport pilot license.
*Three (3) hours of flight training must be conducted within the 2 calendar months preceding the test.
Applicants for a Sport Pilot Certificate must:
It is rare students are fully-prepared to meet the FAA checkride requirements with only 20 hours of flight time.
We recommend expecting to fly at least twice as many hours in preparation for your exam.
Flying is a depreciable skill, so delays typical in aviation often mean repeating lessons or flying additional hours to maintain proficiency before a test. Moreover, the saying “if you have time to spare, go by air” applies most particularly to earning ratings at the Sport Pilot Level.
A sport pilot certificate is a pilot license that allows you to fly a light sport aircraft (LSA) (under 1,320 pounds) for recreational purposes, carrying one passenger during daylight and in good weather conditions.
To qualify for a sport pilot certificate, you must be at least 17 years old, fluent in the English language, and have a minimum of 20 hours of flight time. You must also pass a written exam and a practical flying test.
A sport pilot certificate is ideal for beginner pilots looking to get their feet wet in the aviation world without committing to a more expensive and involved license such as a private pilot certificate. It’s also an excellent option for those living in areas with good flying conditions, as sport pilot certificate holders are restricted to daylight hours and good weather.
The sport pilot certificate is issued with no expiration date, however, like all FAA pilot certificates, maintaining your pilot privileges is contingent on your successful completion of a flight review every 2 years.
A sport pilot certificate is an excellent option if you’re looking to fly an aircraft for recreation, however, if you’d like to fly commercially or at night, you need to seek more advanced licenses, such as the private pilot license.
Sport Pilot Certificate: Allows holders to operate an array of light sport aircraft for recreational purposes under the following aircraft categories and classes: Note: additional category and class privileges requires training and passing of a proficiency check.
There are many reasons the sport pilot certificate has become so popular. One reason is that the sport pilot certificate is considerably less expensive than the other basic pilot certificates: the recreational pilot and private pilot certificate. Another great benefit of the sport pilot certificate is that it can be earned in a relatively short time frame, minimum 20 hours of flight training compared to the 40 hours required for the private pilot certificate.
Finally, the sport pilot license is more limited than other types of flying certificates, meaning sport pilots have to operate with a higher margin of safety and caution when in the air. This makes the sport pilot license safer for both sport pilots and others in their vicinity.
Because sport pilot certificates are intended for recreational purposes and sport flying, there are some restrictions on what sport pilots can do. These include:
To be eligible for a sport pilot certificate, pilots must meet the following requirements:
If you meet these requirements and are interested in becoming a sport pilot, the next step is finding a flight school like Santa Monica Flyers that offers sport pilot certification training.
To obtain a sport pilot license, pilots must complete at least 20 hours of flight training. This training must include the following:
Flight schools like Santa Monica Flyers offer sport pilot certification training that covers these requirements. Once you have completed the necessary flight hours and passed your written and practical exams, you will be a certified sport pilot!
A sport pilot certificate allows pilots to fly a limited number of airplanes called light sport aircraft. Light sport aircraft are typically small, simple planes that are easy to wash and have lower operating costs than faster, more advanced airplanes such as the Cirrus. Some examples of light sport aircraft include the SportCruiser (PiperSport), Cessna 162, J-3 Cub, Aeronca Champ, and Sling LSA. These light sport aircraft are typically used for private, recreational flying and basic pilot training.
If you are interested in learning to fly a specific type of light sport aircraft, check with your nearest flight school to see if they offer training for that particular airplane. Santa Monica Flyers offers sport pilot certification training in the SportCruiser (PiperSport).
While sport pilots have some restrictions regarding where they can fly sport airplanes and what types they are allowed to operate, several benefits come with obtaining your sport pilot certificate. These benefits include:
The cost of a sport pilot certificate varies depending on the flight school you attend and the type of aircraft you choose to fly. However, sport pilot certificates are generally less expensive than regular private pilot licenses, averaging around $10k.
Sport pilot certification is an excellent way for pilots to get their feet wet in the world of flying. Our flight instructors have years of experience teaching new and aspiring sport pilots how to fly, and we offer sport pilot certification training that fits every budget. If you want to earn your sport pilot certificate, contact Santa Monica Flyers today! If you are interested in more operating privileges, we also offer training for the private pilot certificate.
A sport pilot license is a type of pilot certificate that allows pilots to fly light sport aircraft. On the other hand, a recreational pilot license will enable pilots to fly all kinds of light sport aircraft and certain single-engine airplanes.
Differences in requirements: sport pilots must have a minimum of 20 flight hours, whereas recreational pilots need 30 flight hours.
Differences in privileges: sport pilots can only fly “light-sport aircraft” and cannot carry more than one passenger or fly outside of the United States. The occupancy limit for recreational pilots is the same, but they may technically fly aircraft larger than a light sport aircraft. The limit for size of aircraft is aircraft capable/certificated of seating four occupants, but again, the recreational pilot is still subject to only one passenger.
Which certificate is suitable for you? That depends on what you plan to do with your pilot license. A sport pilot license may be ideal for you if you are only interested in flying light sport aircraft. If you want more flexibility regarding the types of aircraft you can fly, a recreational pilot license is a better option.
A private pilot license allows pilots to fly day or night all light sport aircraft and many varieties of single-engine airplanes including aircraft such as the C172, Cirrus, Bonanza, Pipers, and Mooneys.
Differences in requirements: sport pilots are able to satisfy the FAA’s medical requirements using a valid, current U.S. driver’s license whereas private pilots must have passed an FAA medical exam and hold a current third-class medical certificate.
Private pilots may carry as many passengers as there are seats aboard (and divide the costs among those passengers) and fly outside the United States. Sport pilots can only bring one passenger and are restricted against flying internationally without approval from the governing agency of the country in which they wish to operate an LSA.
Which certificate is suitable for you? That depends on what you plan to do with your pilot license. A private pilot license may suit you if you are interested in flying various aircraft day or night. A sport pilot license may be a better option if you only want to fly light sport aircraft and fly during the daylight only.
No, sport pilot licenses only allow pilots to fly light sport aircraft. Cessna 172s are not considered light sport aircraft. However, a sport pilot can fly many other types of light sport aircraft. If you are interested in flying a specific type of aircraft, contact your local flight school and ask if they offer training for that type of aircraft. At Santa Monica Flyers, we offer sport pilot training in the SportCruiser. Contact us today to learn more!
Sport pilots are allowed to fly light sport aircraft. The Cessna 150 is not a LSA.
