The sport pilot certificate is a relatively new license that was created to make flying more accessible.
The training is easier to complete and less expensive since the total flight hours were reduced from 40
hours for a private pilot to 20 hours for a sport pilot. Perhaps the biggest benefit, at least for some, is
that a medical certificate is not needed – now all that is needed is a valid driver’s license. The new sport
pilot license has turned out to be very popular. Another great benefit is that it will be very easy to
upgrade to a private pilot certificate if you decide to at a later date
With a sport pilot certificate you will be limited to flying a light sport airplane (LSA). These are the
simpler airplanes, defined by the new regulations. Basically, they are limited to two seats, a single
engine, fixed landing gear, non-pressurized, fixed pitch propeller, maximum 120 knot airspeed, maximum
45 knot stall speed, and maximum take off weight of 1320 pounds. A sport pilot is also limited to flying
during daylight, inside the U.S., under 10,000 feet msl, within visual reference to the surface, and with
visibility greater than three miles. A sport pilot must also have an endorsement to operate in Class B, C,
or D airspace or at an airport with an operational control tower. These restrictions are not too limiting,
especially when you consider the benefits and flexibility the sport pilot certificate offers.
The length of your training time is entirely up to you. We will work with your schedule and budget. To
keep your training costs to a minimum and to facilitate better training, you should plan to fly at least
twice a week or as often as your budget allows. The more frequently you fly, the less time will be wasted
repeating things you forgot from previous lessons. If you fly twice a week, you can expect to earn your
certificate in a few months.
The LSA training airplane that we offer at Northwoods is the venerable Piper J3 Cub. This is a tandem-
seat, conventional gear airplane. It is one of the most popular trainers ever build and is a pure treat to
fly!
Learning to fly does not take any superhuman skills. You don’t have to be physically strong, or be some
kind of genius. About all it takes is some persistence and the ability to do some basic math. If you have
a desire to learn, aviation will welcome you with lifelong satisfaction.
Sport Pilot Certificate Requirements
Qualifications / Medical Considerations
People often wonder if they are qualified to earn a private pilot certificate. The requirements are
actually easily met. You must be able to read, write, and speak English. Be at least 17 years old; training
can actually begin at a younger age, and there is no upper age limit. You will need to pass a written
test, as well as a practical test. One new requirement imposed by the TSA is that you have to prove
citizenship before you begin training. This can be accomplished by showing us a birth certificate or
passport along with a government issued photo ID. If you are not a US citizen, then additional TSA
requirements must be met.
There are some limiting medical requirements, but even these are not too hard to meet. Yes, you can fly
if you wear glasses (I do). The great thing about the sport pilot certificate is that you do not need to get
a medical certificate. Your U.S. driver’s license takes the place of a medical certificate. About the only
medical restrictions are the ones that are listed on your driver’s license. In addition, you cannot use
your driver’s license as your medical certificate if you have previously had a medical certificate denied
or revoked. You also cannot legally exercise sport pilot privileges if you know of a medical condition
that would make you unable to operate a light sport aircraft in a safe manner. That’s it, pretty simple by
FAA standards!
Flight Requirements and Costs
The federal aviation regulations stipulate certain minimum requirements for the sport pilot certificate.
Training under part 61, the flight requirements are 20 hours total, which must consist of at least 15 hours
dual flight instruction and at least 5 hours of solo flight. The outline below lists more details.
10 take offs and landings to a full stop at an airport.
15 hours of dual flight training consisting of at least
2 hours of cross country training time.
3 hours in preparation for the practical test within 60 days preceding the test
5 hours of solo time consisting of
One cross country at least 75 nm total distance, with landings at a minimum of two airports, with one
segment at least a 25 nm leg between the takeoff and landing locations .
Keep in mind that these are minimum times. It is possible to obtain the necessary proficiency within 20
hours, but realistically, you can expect training to take about 40 hours. Since this is a new certificate, we
do not yet know an average training time. Above all, we will train you to be a safe, competent pilot.
Some things you can do to keep your training costs to a minimum are: fly as often as possible, and come
prepared for each lesson. Most of what you learn will be learned on the ground; the airplane will mainly
be used as a tool to demonstrate what you have already learned. The good news is that you will be able
to study and learn at home at no cost. Of course, your flight instructor will always be there to answer
your questions and to introduce new material. Keep in mind that learning is an active process, and the
best way to learn aviation it through the study materials. If you do your homework beforehand, you will
accelerate your training. A good estimate of the cost of earning you sport pilot certificate would be
about $3000 to $5000. Please see our Helpful Information page for rental and instruction rates.
Training Materials and Equipment
The Gleim training materials will be used to prepare you for your knowledge and practical tests. There
are a number of quality training materials available to help you study and your choices can be
overwhelming. The Gleim books are straightforward and present the information in a logical outline
form. There is also a good training syllabus that you can use to keep track of your progress. Below is a
list of required and recommended materials.
Required Items
o Gleim’s Sport Pilot Kit ............... $119.95
o Pilot’s Logbook ............... est. $15
o Renter’s Insurance ............... est. * $450
o Sectional Charts ............... $32
o East-Central A/FD ............... $5
o Knowledge Test Fee ............... $90
o Practical Test Fee ............... est. $300
o Fuel Strainer ............... est. $15
Recommended Items
o Aviation Headset ............... $150 and up
o Sport Pilot Oral Exam Guide ............... $13
o King DVD Course ............... est. $180
o Airplane Flying Handbook ............... $20
o Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ... $20
o Electronic E6B ............... est. $80
In addition, AOPA and EAA are great organizations that you may want to join. You can find all of these
materials at a variety of pilot shops and online. For your convenience, we sell the Gleim materials at
Northwoods. Please see our Helpful Information page for a list of web pages that will be useful in
locating these items. *Discuss renter’s insurance with our instructors to determine your needs.
Simplified Training Outline
Here is a general outline of how your training will progress. The order can be switched around
somewhat, but this is the basic layout. A detailed syllabus will be included in your Gleim Books to keep
you abreast of your training.
Meet with an instructor to get you started
Obtain study materials and begin flying
Practice take offs and landings as well as other maneuvers
Obtain your student pilot certificate
Pass a pre-solo aeronautical knowledge test (given by instructor)
Solo the airplane
Study for FAA knowledge test
Practice more maneuvers
Fly cross country flights
Take FAA knowledge test
Practice
Review
Pass your practical test
