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Sport Pilot CFI Recency

FAR 61.425 — Sport Pilot CFI Recency

FAR 61.425 explains how flight instructors with a sport pilot rating establish recent experience to keep their CFI certificate current and avoid expiration.

In Plain English

FAR 61.425 tells flight instructors holding a sport pilot rating how to maintain currency on their CFI certificate. The rule splits instructors into two groups based on when their certificate was issued:

  • Issued after December 1, 2024: You must establish recent experience under § 61.197 (the standard CFI renewal pathway — for example, completing a flight instructor refresher course or meeting student endorsement/pass-rate requirements).
  • Issued before December 1, 2024 (and unexpired): You must renew by satisfying § 61.197 recent experience requirements before the month your certificate expires.

If you let the certificate expire without meeting the recent experience requirements, you cannot exercise flight instructor privileges until you reinstate them under § 61.427.

Why it matters: CFI privileges aren't permanent. Missing your renewal window grounds you from teaching and signing off students until you go through the reinstatement process — so track your expiration month carefully and plan your renewal activity well in advance.

Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.425
§ 61.425 How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating? (a) If you hold a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating issued after December 1, 2024, you must establish recent experience in accordance with § 61.197. (b) If you hold an unexpired flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating issued before December 1, 2024, you must renew your certificate by establishing recent experience in accordance with § 61.197 prior to the month of expiration on your flight instructor certificate. If you fail to establish recent experience prior to the expiration of your flight instructor certificate, you may not exercise flight instructor privileges until you reinstate those privileges in accordance with § 61.427. [Docket FAA-2023-0825, Amdt. 61-155, 89 FR 80052, Oct. 1, 2024]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1How does a flight instructor with a sport pilot rating establish recent experience to keep the certificate current?
Per FAR 61.425, the instructor must establish recent experience in accordance with FAR 61.197, completing those requirements before the month the CFI certificate expires.
Q2What happens if your sport pilot CFI certificate expires before you establish recent experience?
Under FAR 61.425(b), you may not exercise flight instructor privileges until you reinstate them in accordance with FAR 61.427.
Q3Does it matter whether your sport pilot CFI certificate was issued before or after December 1, 2024?
Yes. FAR 61.425 applies § 61.197 recent experience to both, but certificates issued before December 1, 2024 must be renewed prior to the expiration month, while those issued after that date follow § 61.197 directly.
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Related Sections in Part 61
§ 61.1
Part 61 Definitions
§ 61.100
Island-Based Pilots
§ 61.101
Recreational Pilot Privileges
§ 61.102
Private Pilot Applicability
§ 61.103
Private Pilot Eligibility
§ 61.105
Private Pilot Knowledge Areas
§ 61.107
Flight Proficiency Areas
§ 61.109
Private Pilot Aeronautical Experience
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FAR 61.425 — Sport Pilot CFI Recent Experience