Sport Pilot Talk

If I start training in a non Light Sport aircraft can the hours flown transfer if I decide to go for a Sport Pilot rating?

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Joe Mikus
Perryville, MD
USAF Ret Avionics Tech
Student Sport Pilot (Financial hold)

Yes, Joe, absolutely. Hours logged with an FAR 61 Subpart H flight instructor do indeed count toward both Sport Pilot and Private Pilot. The converse is not always true, however -- if you happen to train with a Subpart K (Sport Pilot) instructor, the hours presently do not count toward any rating other than Sport Pilot. So, if you want to transition in the opposite direction, be sure you train with a traditional CFI.

(This limitation might change in the future; FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition from EAA, FAA, and NAFI, which seeks to allow some training received from a Subpart K instructor to also count toward Private. Stay tuned as the situation evolves.)

Do bear in mind that if you go for the SP license, your training in preparation for the practical exam, as well as the checkride itself, must be in an LSA or a sport-pilot eligible experimental or certified aircraft.

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

Joe you may be an advanced student and finish your private in exactly forty hours. The national average for students completing their private is in the 60-70 hr range. Therefore the argument that many people make about hours not counting from a Flight Instructor-Sport is virtually negligible. Twenty hours are required for the sport pilot license, and if you make the transition to private, which requires 40 hours, you would have to obtain some instrument training along with night flying anyway. So it works out no matter who you receive instruction from.

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Tuskegee U Alum

Just curious, Joe: when were you in, and what was your AFSC? I was a 30750 (tech controller), but that was back in the 1960s. Later I got involved with the Wild Weasels, but that was as a civilian engineer.

In any case, thank you for your service to our country.

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

Paul,

What company were you with? My dad worked for Applied Technologies on the Wild Weasel projects.

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Roger Fane
N510RF - 2006 Flight Design CTsw
KRHV - Reid Hillview - San Jose, CA

That's where I was, Roger - 1972 to 1975.

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

Paul,

My dad's name was Edwin Fane, and went by Ed. He was there from 1968 until he passed away in early 1983. He worked with and was good friends with Rick Berg and Bob Crestoff. Maybe you knew them. Rick Berg had a PP cert.

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Roger Fane
N510RF - 2006 Flight Design CTsw
KRHV - Reid Hillview - San Jose, CA