Sport Pilot Certificated Flight Instructor

From Pilots Almanac

These are the steps to take to acquire the signoffs and endorsements for Sport Pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) privileges.

Contents 1 Prerequisites 2 Experience Requirements 3 How to Acquire CFIS Certificate 3.1 New instructor Candidate 3.2 Ultralight Instructor

Prerequisites

The applicant must hold a sport pilot or higher pilot certificate with the category and class privileges as appropriate to the flight instructor privileges sought. The candidate must be at least 18 years old.

Experience Requirements

Airplane and weight-shift-control category instructors need 150 hours of flight time as a pilot, which must include at least:

• 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,
• 50 hours of flight time in category,
• 25 hours of cross-country flight time,
• 10 hours of cross-country flight time in category, and
• 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in category that is a light-sport aircraft.

How to Acquire CFIS Certificate

There are several different paths to acheiving your certificate, depending on your previous experience. Below are several of the options.

New instructor Candidate

• Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
• Receive training and endorsement from Sport Pilot CFI to take the computer based knowledge test and the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) tests.
• Pass the FOI test.
• Pass the CFI knowledge test for specific category.
• Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411. Time logged in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53 until January 31, 2008. However, the checkride must be in an N-numbered aircraft.
• Obtain and log training within 60 days before practical test.
• Obtain endorsement for practical test from Sport Pilot CFI in log book and on 8710-11 form.
• Pass CFI sport practical test with DPE/SPIE.
• Receive Sport Pilot CFI Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for Practical test.

Ultralight Instructor

• Ultralight instructor registered before 09-01-2004
  • Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
  • Request a letter from the ultralight organization you're registered with. The letter should state that you are a registered instructor, along with the type of aircraft you are registered to instruct in. It should also state if you have taken the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) test. (If your letter states that you have already taken the FOI test, you don't have to take it again.) This letter can take the place of a CFI endorsement until Jan. 31, 2008, as long as, you were a registered instructor in good standing as of Sept. 1, 2004. This is needed for your CFI knowledge, checkride (practical test), and FOI endorsements.
  • Pass CFI written knowledge test (computer based) for specific category.
  • Meet only time requirements of 61.411. Logged Ultralight time can be used for this.
  • Fill out 8710-11 form and pass practical test with DPE/SPIE.
  • Receive CFI Sport Pilot Certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for Practical and aircraft types listed on ultralight organization endorsement letter.

• Non-registered Ultralight Instructor or Ultralight instructor registered after 09-01-2004
  • Hold at least a Sport Pilot certificate.
  • Obtain training and endorsement to take computer based knowledge test for category and Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) knowledge test..
  • Pass FOI and computer based CFI knowledge test for specific category.
  • Meet ALL Sport Pilot CFI requirements per 61.407 through 61.411. Time logged in an Ultralight is allowed per FAR 61.53 until January 31, 2008. However the checkride must be in an N numbered aircraft.
  • Obtain and log training within 60 days before Practical test. Obtain endorsement for the Practical Test from Sport Pilot CFI in log book and on 8710-11 form.
  • Pass Sport Pilot CFI checkride (practical test) with DPE/SPIE.
  • Receive Sport Pilot CFI certificate and log book endorsement for type of aircraft used for checkride.