14 CFR § 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:

If you are applying for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating for . . .	Then you must log at least . . .	Which must include at least . . .
(a) Airplane category and single-engine class privileges,	(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(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
		(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.
(b) Glider category 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
(c) Rotorcraft category and gyroplane class privileges,	(1) 125 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(i) 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft, (ii) 50 hours of flight time in a gyroplane,
		(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
		(iv) 3 hours of cross-country time in a gyroplane, and
		(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.
(d) Lighter-than-air category and airship class privileges,	(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(i) 40 hours of flight time in an airship, (ii) 20 hours of pilot in command time in an airship,
		(iii) 10 hours of cross-country time,
		(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in an airship, and
		(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.
(e) Lighter-than-air category and balloon class privileges,	(1) 35 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command,	(i) 20 hours of flight time in a balloon, (ii) 10 flights in a balloon, and
		(iii) 5 flights as pilot in command in a balloon that is an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316.
(f) Weight-shift-control aircraft category privileges,	(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(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,
		(iii) 25 hours of cross-country time,
		(iv) 10 hours of cross-country time in a weight-shift-control aircraft, and
		(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.
(g) Powered-parachute category privileges,	(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(i) 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft, (ii) 50 hours of flight time in a powered parachute,
		(iii) 15 hours of cross-country time,
		(iv) 5 hours of cross-country time in a powered parachute, and
		(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.
(h) Rotorcraft category and helicopter class, only if that helicopter is certificated under § 21.190 and obtains the simplified flight controls designation,	(1) 150 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(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.
	(2) [Reserved]

[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]