The Sport Pilot Certificate

The Sport Pilot CertificateThe Sport Pilot CertificateFlying airplanes is a lot of fun. Unfortunately,many people nevertake off because they believe thatflying is not a possibility for them. Thehighcost andlarge time investment tend to steer people away. But it doesnt have to be that wayIf you want to fly airplanes butdont have the time or money, then the sport pilot certificate is theperfect solution. The Sport Pilot Designation The sport pilot certificate was developed by the FAA in 2007 to make flying mora affordable and available to everyone. A number of student pilots are unable to complete the private pilot certificate due to time orfinancial constraints. The sport pilot certificate is meant for those who want to fly strictly on a recreational basis. It allows pilots to be certified with less instruction time andbecause of this, there are more restrictions in place for sport pilots. Sport Pilot Certificate Eligibility To be eligible for a sport pilot certificate, you mu st Be at least 17 years old (You can start training for a sport pilot certificate when youre 16 years old, but you cant take the test until age 17.)Hold both aU.S. Drivers License and student pilot certificate OR an aviation medical certificate with a student pilot certificate.Be able to read, speak, write and understand English.Obtain at least 20 hours of flight time, 15 of which must be instructional and at least 5 hours of solo flight time.Pass a written exam and a practical test. How to Get a Sport Pilot Certificate Attain a student pilot certificate and medical exam (if necessary- landsee below).Gain the required 20 hours of flight time. Fifteen of those hours must be with an instructor, and five must be solo flight hours. (Some people need more flight hours to become proficient at certain aspects of flying, so keep in mind that 20 hours is the minimum that the FAA has set not necessarily the exact number of hours it will take you to earn your certificate.)Receive ground t raining on the following topicsRegulations flight operationsAccident reporting requirementsAeronautical Information Manual (AIM) usage advisory circularsAeronautical ChartsWeather identification weather reportsCollision avoidance wind shearDensity AltitudeAircraft weight balanceAerodynamics systemsStall spin awarenessAeronautical decision making resource managementPreflight action Take the FAA sport pilot written exam.Whenyoure proficient, take the FAA practical test. What the Exams Are Like There is a written exam that consists of 40 questions. You are given 2 hours to take it and need a 70% or better to pass. You can take the knowledge test at any time during your training, as long as your instructor gives you an endorsement. You can also complete a home-study course some of them mail you an endorsement after you complete a certain amount of computerized practice tests with high scores. The written exam is valid for two years, and the FAA offers a study guide. The pra ctical exam is the test youll take to earn your final certificate. This exam consists of a verbalexamfollowed by a flight exam, in which you and an FAA examiner will take a flight, and youll perform certain maneuvers,graded against the FAAs practical test standards for sport pilots. Once youre back on the ground, the examiner will fill out paperwork and youll be done What You Can Do With a Sport Pilot Certificate You can fly around for fun at small, non-towered airports. You cant fly at night, carry more than one passenger, or fly for business or hire. Sport pilots cannot fly within class A, B, C, or D airspace without additional training and instructor endorsements, nor can they fly outside the U.S. Sport pilots are limited to altitudes below 10,000 feet. Youll be able to fly light sport aircraft in the category and class that you are certified for in airspace that doesnt require air traffic control communication. How to Know If You Need an Aviation Medical Exam One of the benefits of the sport pilot certificate is that you probably dont need to get an aviation medical certificate to apply for a sport pilot certificate. You can apply for a sport pilot certificate using your drivers license and a student pilot certificate unless you have been denied an aviation medical certificate in the past, or it has been suspended or revoked. Also, if you have a known medical condition that threatens the safety of flight in any way, you need to see an aviation medical examiner for a medical certificate before getting a sport pilot certificate.