What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

To apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, you must receive and log both ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in specific areas of operation. These areas cover the full spectrum of instructing skills, from technical subjects and preflight preparation through emergency operations and post-flight procedures.

The specific areas you must train in depend on the aircraft category and class you want to teach. For example, if you're seeking privileges to teach in airplanes, you'll need training in stalls, spins, and ground reference maneuvers. If you want to teach helicopters, you'll train in hovering maneuvers instead. Glider instructor applicants focus on soaring techniques and performance speeds, while weight-shift-control applicants must learn tumble entry and avoidance.

This regulation ensures sport pilot instructors are comprehensively trained to teach the maneuvers and knowledge areas relevant to their specific aircraft type.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*