FAR 61.411 — Sport Pilot CFI Experience
FAR 61.411 sets the flight time and experience required to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, by category and class.
In Plain English
FAR 61.411 lists the aeronautical experience you must have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating. Requirements vary by aircraft category and class, but each row of the table specifies a total pilot time plus minimum sub-totals (PIC time, time in category/class, cross-country, and PIC time in a light-sport-eligible aircraft under § 61.316).
Key minimums by category/class:
- Airplane single-engine: 150 hrs total, 100 hrs PIC powered, 50 in single-engine airplane, 25 XC (10 in SEL), 15 PIC in a § 61.316 airplane.
- Glider: 25 hrs PIC in gliders + 100 flights + 15 PIC flights in a § 61.316 glider, or 100 hrs heavier-than-air + 20 glider flights + 15 PIC flights in a light-sport glider.
- Gyroplane: 125 hrs total, 100 PIC powered, 50 in gyroplane, 10 XC (3 in gyro), 15 PIC in a § 61.316 gyroplane.
- Airship: 100 hrs total, 40 in airship, 20 PIC in airship, 10 XC (5 in airship), 15 PIC in § 61.316 airship.
- Balloon: 35 hrs PIC, 20 hrs in balloon, 10 flights, 5 PIC flights in a § 61.316 balloon.
- Weight-shift-control: 150 hrs total, 100 PIC powered, 50 in WSC, 25 XC (10 in WSC), 15 PIC in § 61.316 WSC.
- Powered parachute: 100 hrs total, 75 PIC powered, 50 in PPC, 15 XC (5 in PPC), 15 PIC in § 61.316 PPC.
- Helicopter (only if certificated under § 21.190 with simplified flight controls): 150 hrs total, 100 PIC powered, 50 in helicopter, 25 XC (10 in heli), 15 PIC in helicopter.
This matters operationally because you cannot apply for the sport pilot CFI until your logbook satisfies every line in the applicable row.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.411§ 61.411 What aeronautical experience must I have to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
Use the following table to determine the experience you must have for each aircraft category and class:
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by FAA-2023-1275; Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92483, Nov. 21, 2024; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35216, 35218, July 24, 2025]
(2) [Reserved]
(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft;(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a helicopter;(iii) 25 hours of cross-country flight time;(iv) 10 hours of cross-country flight time in a helicopter; and(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a helicopter.
(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(h) Rotorcraft category and helicopter class, only if that helicopter is certificated under § 21.190 and obtains the simplified flight controls designation,
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a powered parachute that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in a powered parachute, and
(iii) 15 hours of cross-country time,
(i) 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a powered parachute,
(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(g) Powered-parachute category privileges,
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a weight-shift-control aircraft that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(iv) 10 hours of cross-country time in a weight-shift-control aircraft, and
(iii) 25 hours of cross-country time,
(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a weight-shift-control aircraft,
(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(f) Weight-shift-control aircraft category privileges,
(iii) 5 flights as pilot in command in a balloon that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(i) 20 hours of flight time in a balloon,(ii) 10 flights in a balloon, and
(1) 35 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command,
(e) Lighter-than-air category and balloon class privileges,
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in an airship that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in an airship, and
(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
(i) 40 hours of flight time in an airship,(ii) 20 hours of pilot in command time in an airship,
(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(d) Lighter-than-air category and airship class privileges,
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a gyroplane that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(iv) 3 hours of cross-country time in a gyroplane, and
(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a gyroplane,
(1) 125 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(c) Rotorcraft category and gyroplane class privileges,
(1) 25 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a glider, 100 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316, or(2) 100 hours in heavier-than-air aircraft, 20 flights in a glider, and 15 flights as pilot in command in a glider that is a light-sport aircraft
(b) Glider category privileges,
(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a single-engine airplane that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft,(ii) 50 hours of flight time in a single-engine airplane,(iii) 25 hours of cross-country time,(iv) 10 hours of cross-country time in a single-engine airplane, and
(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,
(a) Airplane category and single-engine class privileges,
Which must include at least . . .
Then you must log at least . . .
If you are applying for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot ratingfor . . .
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What flight time do you need to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating in airplane single-engine?
Per FAR 61.411(a), 150 hours total as a pilot, including 100 hours PIC in powered aircraft, 50 hours in a single-engine airplane, 25 hours cross-country (10 in SEL), and 15 hours PIC in a § 61.316-compliant airplane.
Q2How does the experience requirement differ for a sport pilot CFI in balloons?
FAR 61.411(e) requires 35 hours PIC, with at least 20 hours in a balloon, 10 flights in a balloon, and 5 PIC flights in a balloon meeting § 61.316 — no cross-country requirement, since balloon experience is measured in flights.
Q3Can you apply for a sport pilot CFI rating in helicopters, and if so under what condition?
Yes, but FAR 61.411(h) limits it to helicopters certificated under § 21.190 with the simplified flight controls designation, and you must have 150 hours total, 100 PIC powered, 50 in helicopter, 25 XC (10 in heli), and 15 PIC in helicopter.
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Related Sections in Part 61