MOSAIC Explained: FAQ

A sport pilot certificate is issued by the FAA and allows the holder to fly many light sport aircraft without meeting all requirements of a private pilot certificate. It was created in 2004 to make flying more accessible, with reduced training time, medical requirements, and cost.

The requirements to earn a sport pilot certificate have not changed under these new rules. A sport pilot must:

• Be at least 17 years old.
• Read, speak, write, and understand English.
• Hold a medical certificate OR a valid U.S. driver’s license. (See more information on medical requirements below.)
• Have a minimum of 20 hours of flight time, including:
  • 15 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor.
  • 5 hours of solo flight.
  • 2 hours of cross-country flight training.
  • 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop.
  • 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 takeoff and landing locations.
  • 2 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test.
  • Ground training from an instructor or home-study course.

The following table shows the changes to sport pilot privileges.

Previously, the aircraft sport pilots could fly were limited by takeoff weight. Under the new rules, sport pilots will now be limited by the aircraft’s stall speed.

A light sport aircraft (LSA) was previously defined as an aircraft that had to meet strict limitations, including max takeoff weight, max airspeed, max stall speed, and more.

Since the definition of LSA was removed, there are new requirements for certification. A stall speed limitation replaces the weight limit, allowing a more expansive range of design options and performance for light-sport category aircraft issued airworthiness certificates on or after July 24, 2026 based on industry consensus standards. More information can be found under “What is changing for light sport aircraft?” below.

The changes give aircraft manufacturers the opportunity to introduce new and more capable light sport category aircraft to the market.

The following table shows the changes to the 2004 rule that established light sport aircraft. The FAA will strike the definition of LSA from the regulations effective July 24, 2026, and recognize light-sport category aircraft. The most significant change to the requirements to be certified as a light-sport category aircraft is that the takeoff weight limit was removed, and the maximum airspeed and stall speed were increased.

The FAA intentionally separated the aircraft design standards from pilot certification limits. This allows sport pilots to operate more capable aircraft that meet the new definition of a light sport category aircraft, while still limiting the number of passengers due to the lack of required medical certification and risk mitigation.

The FAA has expressed willingness to revisit this limitation when enough time has passed to review any impact of these changes on safety.

The limits for sport pilot privileges and light sport aircraft largely mirrored each other previously.

However, the new rules separated limits for both, including the maximum stall speed. Sport pilots are limited to aircraft with a stall speed of 59 knots calibrated airspeed without flaps, while aircraft can qualify as light sport category aircraft with stall speeds up to 61 KCAS with flaps.

The FAA explained that this allows light sport category aircraft to be certified “without regard to a specific grade of pilot certificate,” which is already the case for other aircraft categories. The agency believes this will make light sport category aircraft more desirable to the nearly 500,000 pilots who hold higher levels of pilot certificate.

It’s important to remember that while sport pilots will be able to fly aircraft with a much higher stall speed, they will not be able to fly every light-sport category aircraft.

In the new rules for sport pilots and light sport category aircraft, the FAA defines the maximum stall speed using calibrated airspeed (CAS), as opposed to indicated airspeed (IAS).

While pilots are used to using IAS in flight, CAS accounts for any installation or instrumentation errors. Those errors are greatest at slow speeds and higher angles of attack.

This can result in CAS differing from IAS by several knots or more. For example, it’s possible for an aircraft’s stall speed to be 50 knots IAS, but 56 knots CAS.

In addition, position corrections vary among airplane models and even between different aircraft of the same model.

In the final rule, the FAA said, “defining stall speed in IAS would yield gross inconsistencies when determining whether an airplane” meets the stall speed requirements.

Many aircraft include this information in the airplane flight manual or pilot’s operating handbook . If not, contact your aircraft manufacturer or refer to FAA Advisory Circular 90-89C for more information.

AOPA members can also contact the Pilot Information Center for additional assistance.

There are no changes affecting pilots with private, commercial, or ATP privileges. However, a goal of separating the limits for sport pilots and light sport category aircraft is to make those aircraft more attractive to all pilots given the increased performance.

Instruction for a sport pilot certificate can be provided by a certificated flight instructor (CFI) or a light sport flight instructor (CFI-S). The biggest change will be that sport pilot students will now be able to train in a wider variety of aircraft, including trainers found at most flight schools such as a Cessna 172 or Piper PA–28 Archer.

Any CFI or CFI-S will be able to give sport pilots endorsements to fly certain aircraft, or under certain conditions, including:

• Night endorsement.
• Constant speed propeller endorsement.
• Retractable landing gear endorsement.
• Specific make/model aircraft with simplified flight controls designation endorsement.

A CFI-S will still be limited to only providing training to sport pilots but will now be able to both offer the additional training and endorsements listed above and train sport pilots in the wider variety of aircraft they can now fly. However, to provide that training, they must first have the endorsement themselves.

Note: A CFI-S is limited to carrying one “person” instead of one “passenger.” Sport pilot training operations should not include a second person.

The final rule will revise portions of FAR 61.303(b), though it will remain the case that if you have a valid U.S. driver’s license, you can use that in lieu of a medical certificate to exercise sport pilot privileges, if you meet the following requirements:

• You must comply with any restrictions on your driver’s license. For example, if you’re required to wear corrective lenses to drive, you must wear them to fly.
• If you have applied for a medical certificate, you must have been found eligible for issuance of at least a third class medical certificate at the time of your most recent application.
• You cannot have had your most recent medical certificate suspended or revoked, or had a special issuance withdrawn.
• You cannot know of a medical condition that would make you unable to operate an aircraft safely.

No. See the previous question for the requirements to use a U.S. driver’s license in place of a medical certificate.

However, if you apply for and are issued another FAA medical certificate (including through a special issuance, if required), you can exercise sport pilot privileges.

Under the new rules, yes, sport pilots can receive training and earn an endorsement to fly at night. However, they must also hold a valid BasicMed qualification or third class medical certificate.

No, sport pilots will still be unable to earn an instrument rating. To earn an instrument rating, you must first earn a private pilot certificate.

A sport pilot can earn a private pilot certificate—and future ratings and endorsements—by receiving additional training and completing the private pilot certification requirements

Since the FAA made updates to sport pilot rules in 2016, hours and experience from sport pilot training count toward your private pilot requirements.

A pilot already holding a private, commercial, or ATP certificate can fly the category of aircraft they are rated for under sport pilot privileges with no additional training. If a pilot chooses to do this, they must adhere to the new sport pilot privileges such as only carrying one passenger and flying aircraft that meet the performance requirements. If any pilot wants to be able to fly other categories of aircraft, they must first meet the requirements under FAR 61.321, to be amended October 22, 2025.

As of the end of 2024, the FAA said 7,309 pilots held a sport pilot certificate. For comparison, there are about 500,000 pilots who hold private, commercial, and ATP certificates.

AOPA expects these long-awaited changes will open new doors for both current and aspiring pilots. By expanding the types of aircraft available and offering greater operational flexibility, we expect to see increased interest in flying and training as a sport pilot. These updates reduce barriers to entry and support the continued growth of general aviation.