When learning to fly, you may choose to earn a sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate. Compare some of the basic requirements for the three certificates in this convenient chart.
Flight Experience (Part 61) |
Sport Pilot Certificate minimum hours |
Recreational Certificate minimum hours |
Private Certificate minimum hours |
|
Total Hours |
20 | 30 | 40 |
|
Dual |
15 | 15 | 20 |
|
Dual Cross Country |
2 | 2 (25 nautical miles or more) | 3 (50 nautical miles or more) |
|
Solo |
5 | 3 | 10 |
|
Solo Cross Country |
One solo cross-country flight of at least 75 nautical miles total distance, with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two points and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 25 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations | 0 | 5 |
|
Night Flight |
0 | 0 | 3 |
|
Flight by Reference to Instruments |
0 | 0 | 3 |
|
Practical Test Prep |
2 | 3 | 3 |
|
|
LIMITATIONS |
||
|
|
Sport | Recreational | Private |
|
Passengers |
1 | 1 | No Limit |
|
Aircraft |
Light sport aircraft | Restrictions based on operating privilege | Restrictions based on operating privilege |
|
Engines |
1 | 1 | 1* |
|
Seats |
2 | 4 | No Limit |
|
Horsepower |
Not specified (but max speed 120 knots) | 180 | 200* |
|
Retractable Gear |
No | No | No* |
|
Altitude |
10,000 | 10,000 | 18,000* |
|
Airspace |
Class G&E only* | Class G&E only* | No Class A* |
|
Night Flying |
No | No | Yes |
|
Business Related |
No | No | Yes |
|
Flight w/o Ref. To Ground |
No | No | Yes |
|
Outside U.S. |
No | No | Yes |
|
Charity |
No | No | Yes |
|
Towing |
No | No | Yes |
*Indicates a limitation may be removed with additional training, endorsements and/or ratings.