How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

This regulation explains how sport pilot flight instructors maintain recent experience to keep their certificates current.

If you received your sport pilot flight instructor certificate after December 1, 2024, you must meet the recent experience requirements in § 61.197 (the same standard used by other flight instructors).

If you received your certificate before December 1, 2024, you must also meet § 61.197's requirements, but you need to do so before the month your certificate expires. This is your renewal requirement. If you let your certificate expire without establishing this recent experience, you cannot instruct until you reinstate your privileges under § 61.427.

In practical terms, this regulation phases sport pilot instructors into the standard flight instructor recent experience system. The key difference is the timing: newer certificates follow ongoing requirements, while older certificates have a one-time renewal deadline tied to their expiration date.

*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.*