Transitioning UL Instructors Becoming Sport Pilot Rated Flight Instructors
I am an UL Flight Instructor and I want to
become an FAA certificated Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot rating. How do I go
about it?
Until the 31st of Jan., 2008, certain BFI’s (Or
UFI’s or AFI’s) registered with an UL organization have an opportunity to
become Sport FI’s with a minimum of cost and effort. In fact, there will never be an
easier or less expensive way to obtain this certificate. And once obtained, it
is yours forever. Following, is an outline of the necessary steps.
Note: As you go through this list of
steps, it may seem to be a lot of things to accomplish, but in reality, they
are just small steps and don’t take much time or money to accomplish. If you
begin now, you will easily reach your goals. The tests for Sport Pilot rated Flight
Instructor are very similar to the tests you already passed when you became a
Sport Pilot, with the difference that these tests will be in a little more
depth and will be based on the ideas that your knowledge has more depth, that your flying skills are more precise and that you can show your abilities to teach flying skills to aspiring pilots. Experienced BFI’s
with some bookwork and study should have little trouble with the knowledge
test. With some restudy of the FOI (Fundamentals Of
Instruction) subjects, you should be able to accomplish the oral portion of the
practical. The flight portion of the practical is what you have already been
doing while teaching students, with certain tolerances included. So let’s get
out there and do it!
Two Deadlines
There are two deadlines that concern UL Instructors. The first was 1 September, 2004. If you were an UL Instructor, registered with one of the UL organizations before that date, then this transition period is available to you. If you became an instructor on or after that date, then you can't take advantage of it, but you may still use all the hours of UL training and experience toward the FAA Flight Instructor certificate at any time in the future. For you, there is no deadline, so keep your UL Instructor rating in effect right up until the expiration of the exemptions on 31 Jan, 2008. Your time will accrue and the training that you give to pilots, will also be usable by them forever, toward the SP certificate.
SP Flight Instructor Prerequisites
I am
assuming that you have taken the first steps, by becoming a Sport Pilot and
N-numbering, registering and obtaining an airworthiness certificate for your
aircraft. If not, then go here to find out the steps involved:
You must be a Sport Pilot before you become an Sport rated FI. This is because any flight instructor certificate relies upon the privileges of the underlying pilot certificate. Those of you that became Sport Pilots by the 31 Jan 2007 deadline had an easier road to travel. It is still possible to complete the Sport Pilot training if you haven't, but you will now need to meet all the training and experience requirements required by the regulations. Your properly logged UL experience will still count, so keep those old logbooks. Combining all of this with the task of obtaining the Flight Instructor certificate may be very difficult, but for determined applicants, not impossible.
I
also will assume that you have the letter from your UL organization authorizing
you to take the knowledge and practical tests for Sport Pilot Instructor. If not, here are the UL
organization websites:
Aero
Sports Connection (ASC)
United States Ultralight Association (USUA)
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
EAA Sport Pilot (sportpilot.org)
This step
by step guide is for the person holding a BFI certificate from an UL
organization who has that authorization. It will outline the additional steps necessary for someone
wishing to obtain a certificate after
the deadline, at the end of this document.
Rules for Transitioning UL Instructors
First,
let’s take a look at the rules covering this transition. Here is a link to the
FAA rule covering the requirements for transitioning BFI's (61.431):
61.431 Transitioning Registered Ultralight Instructors
As a BFI or AFI or UFI with one of the Orgs, you can obtain the letter from
that Org that qualifies you for the knowledge and practical testing. This will
also mean you don't have to study for and take the FOI (Fundamentals of
Instruction) written test.
The Knowledge Test
The Knowledge Test for Sport Pilot Flight Instructor is quite a bit more
difficult than the one for Sport Pilot. It is 70 questions and you need 70% to
pass. There are separate tests for each category of aircraft. Here is a link to
the Testing Matrix that lists the tests and the authorizations required.
FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Authorization Requirements Matrix
You will
take it at the same kind of testing center you took the pilot test at. When you
schedule your test don’t forget to make sure you ask for the correct category
of Sport Pilot Flight Instructor test. Here is a link to the Testing Centers:
Airman Knowledge Testing Center List
What to Study?
In addition
to all the things you needed to know to become a Sport Pilot, the knowledge
required to become a Sport Pilot Flight Instructor includes all the rules
pertaining to Flight Instructors (In the FAR’s), as well as knowledge of how to
instruct. Much of the knowledge of how to instruct is contained in the
“Fundamentals of Instruction”. You learned these things in your UL instructor
training, so you don’t have to take the FOI test, but it is good to review
before taking the FAA test.
The Rules
You need to
know the portion of Part 61 of the Regulations that applies to Sport Pilot
Instructors:
Subpart
K Sport Pilot Flight Instructors
Instructor Handbook
The FAA
publishes a handbook for Instructors. It is called the Aviation Instructor's
Handbook. It contains much of the basic information you need to study. Get a copy free here:
Aviation
Instructor's Handbook
The
knowledge and practical tests will be similar in subject matter and a bit expanded in scope, compared to
what you accomplished as a SP applicant. The main difference is that you will be
demonstrating your ability to teach these subjects to a student pilot. In
addition you will need to know the teaching methods outlined in the
Fundamentals of Instruction. The following are the areas you need to be prepared in. This is true whether you are a transitioning UL Instructor or a "from scratch" applicant. The only difference is that the transitioning applicant doesn't have to produce any other documentation other than the letter from his organization.
61.407
Aeronautical Knowledge
61.409 Flight Proficiency
Minimum Total Flight Time
A transitioning UL Instructor need not meet the aeronautical experience of 61.411, but he must meet the minimum total flight time for the category. See below:
FOI (Fundamentals of Instruction)
Much of the
FOI material is covered in the Aviation
Instructors Handbook. King and others have good study materials for
this as well.
Category Specific Study Materials
The FAA has
category specific knowledge tests for the Sport Pilot Flight Instructor certificate.
Each test will have general SP questions as well as questions that relate to
that specific category of aircraft (Such as Fixed-Wing, WSC or PPC). This means
that you will have to decide what category of aircraft you are going to take
the oral/practical test in, and take the knowledge test for that same category.
One difficulty for students is that the question bank the FAA has posted on
their website does not include the category specific questions so there is no
way to correlate the knowledge areas to study from referenced knowledge codes.
The only way to assemble an adequate list of study aids is to get the list of reference
materials from the PTS (Practical Test Standard). For category specific
questions they simply list either “The Powered Parachute Bible” or “Trikes, The
Flex-Wing Flyers”. In AC60-25f the particular chapters you need to study, are
listed. They are also listed below for your convenience. Remember, this is just
the category specific information. You will still need to study general Sport
Pilot material.
I understand the FAA is producing new Manuals for you to study for WSC and PPC
that will cover the category specific material. Until these are available the
only materials available are privately published. This is where the FAA is
deriving their questions from until their own material is ready.
For WSC this would be “Trikes, The Flex-Wing Flyers” by Lucien Bartosik and Hal
McSwain. Here is a link:
For PPC’s it would be “The Powered Parachute Bible” by George A. Begue. Here is
a link:
The Powered Parachute Bible
If you study the following chapters in these books, you will have covered the
appropriate material.
The Powered Parachute Bible—Media Max, First Edition
Knowledge Code Chapter No. Chapter Title
H01 3 Airframe
H02 4 Wing
H03 5 Powerplant
H04 6 4-cycle and 2-cycle Engines
H05 7 4-stroke vs. 2-stroke
H06 8 Electrical Output
H07 9 Ignition Systems
H08 10 Oil and Fuel
H09 11 Engine Gauges
H10 12 Propeller
H11 13 Aerodynamics
H12 17 Preflight
H13 18 Operations
Trikes, The Flex-Wing Flyers, H & L Press, Second Edition
Knowledge Code Chapter No. Chapter Title
H20 1 Principles of Flight
H21 2 Weight-Shift Ultralight
H22 3 Effects of Flight Controls
H23 4 Preflight and Postflight
H24 6 Navigation
H25 7 Flight
H26 8 Clothing and Equipment
H27 9 Triking Activities
Note: When the FAA completes their Handbooks and posts them on the net, I will
provide links to them. Until then, you will have to obtain a copy of the
appropriate privately printed materials, for category specific study.
General Study Materials
I've taken the list of reference materials list from the Practical Test Standard for • Airplane• Gyroplane • Glider • Flight Instructor (FAA-S-8081-29 with Change 1), and linked to that material where possible.
These practical test standards are based on the following references:
14 CFR part 43 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration
14 CFR part 61 Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and
Ground Instructors
14 CFR part 67 Medical Standards Certification
14 CFR part 71 Designation of class A, B, C, D, and E airspace
14 CFR part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules
AC 00-6A Aviation Weather
AC 00-45E Aviation Weather Services
AC 60-22 Aeronautical Decision Making
AC 60-28 English Language Skill Standards
AC 61-65D Certification: Pilot and Flight Instructors and Ground Instructors
AC 61-67D Stall and Spin Awareness Training
AC 61-84B Role of Preflight Preparation
AC 61-134 General Aviation Controlled Flight Into Terrain Awareness
AC 90-23F Aircraft Wake Turbulence
AC 90-48C Pilots’ Role in Collision Avoidance
AC 90-66A Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns and
Practices for Aeronautical Operations At
Airports Without Operating Control Towers
AC 91-13C Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft
AC 91-69A Seaplane Safety for FAR Part 91 Operations
AC 120-51E Crew Resource Management Training
FAA-H-8083-1 Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook
FAA-H-8083-3 Airplane Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-9 Aviation Instructor’s Handbook
FAA-H-8083-13 Glider Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-21 Rotorcraft Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-23 Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-25 Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
AIM Aeronautical Information Manual (Online)
AIM Aeronautical Information Manual (PDF)
AFD Airport Facility Directory (Digital Online) (Also get a current paper one here: AFD's)
NOTAMs Notices to Airmen
TFR's
Other:
Pilot Operating Handbook (For your aircraft)
FAA-Approved Flight Manual (For your aircraft)
Aeronautical Navigation Charts (Order from NACO) (Have a current paper one)
Seaplane Supplement
Speaking of study materials, AC60-25F is a list of Subject Matter Knowledge Codes for all FAA tests and a list of the associated reference materials. Get it here:
Endorsements
An important skill required of Instructors, that is seldom taught in any ground school, is that of preparing the proper endorsements that students have earned. AC61-65E shows what endorsements there are and how to write them. Look in Appendix 1 for examples. In addition, AC61-65E has guidance for pilots, flight instructors, ground instructors, and examiners on the certification standards, knowledge test procedures, and other requirements in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61, including information specific to Sport Pilot .
Am I ready for the Test?
The most
important thing to do is to study the required material and to know it in
depth. As an aid, to help you determine your knowledge level, the FAA publishes
a Sample Question Bank. This is a subset of the questions drawn from the full
Question Bank from which they draw the test questions. Do Not simply study the questions and the answers, and assume that
is all that is required. Remember that you will have to know these subjects in
much more depth when you get to the Practical exam. Here is a link to the
Question Bank for instructors:
SP
Flight Instructor Sample Question Bank
You will need a copy of the Computer Testing Supplements, which are the figures
you refer to when answering some of the questions in the Question Bank and on
the actual test. It is a 6MB file and the link to it is here:
Computer
Testing Supplements
Online
Practice Tests:
There are a
few places online, where you can take practice knowledge tests to see if you
are ready to go take the test for real at a testing center.
ASA makes
the best prep guides for the knowledge tests. Here is a link to the their
website for the SP Flight Instructor Guide:
ASA
The Practical Test Standards
The first and most important document you will need is a copy of the PTS or
Practical Test Standards for the category of Sport aircraft that you want to
take your practical test in. Here is a link to the locations for all the PTS's.
FAA
Practical Test Standards
Here are links for the individual PTS's:
FAA-S-8081-29, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane,
Gyroplane, Glider, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
FAA-S-8081-30, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airship,
Balloon, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
FAA-S-8081-31, Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards for Weight Shift
Control, Powered Parachute, and Flight Instructor with Change 1
The PTS
outlines the materials you will need to study and the skills you will have to demonstrate.
Of course, you will be using the Flight Instructor portion of these standards,
and the emphasis will be on how you teach flying, rather than on how you fly.
Good piloting skills are assumed.
Commercial Study Aids
I hear that
King has the best materials to prepare for the practical test, but I haven't
looked at them myself. I used the ASA book for the SP practical, and liked it, but my first Examiner
didn't like it at all. The very good thing is that ASA covers all the categories (Fixed-Wing, WSC and PPC). And I liked how it was laid out like an examiners plan of action. I don't know if the King stuff is SP specific, but it is
good and comprehensive(And expensive).
King
Schools (Airplane Specific) (Private Pilot Specific)
The FAA has a lot of good free Manuals
and Handbooks on their website. Look here:
Gleim
(Books, CD's, complete kits and an online study course) (Airplane Specific only)
www.faaeztest.com
(The Sport Pilot Encyclopedia)
Sweeney
Corp Online Aviation Ground School
Visualized Flight Maneuvers Handbooks (high wing “blue” and low wing “red” books)
ASA has two books that help you visualize and practice the practical maneuvers for high and low wing Airplanes
BLUE (High Wing)
RED (Low Wing)
FAR/AIM
A well
indexed and tabbed FAR/AIM is a useful tool and something I would expect an
instructor to have. Most examiners carry the ASA one, so references to
particular pages match. Here is a link to an index for it (Print and affix it
to the front cover and then tab the particular items):
FAR/AIM Index
Examiners
Here is the
link to the page with Examiners lists (Look at the bottom of the page for PDF
files for each category). You will need one of them for your practical test and
they may have better answers than I on the particulars of getting the Sport Pilot Flight Instructor certificate by
the deadline. You will need one with the SFIE (Sport Pilot Flight Instructor
Examiner) designation.
Sport
Pilot Examiners Handbook
The Sport Pilot
Examiners Handbook tells you everything the DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner)
will do while examining you. It will give you valuable insights into the
process. A link to it is here:
Sport
Pilot Examiners Handbook FAA Order 8710.7
Forms
and Documents
You will need a filled out copy of FAA
form 8710-11, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, to give to the
Examiner when you arrive for the test.
FAA Form 8710-11
AFS610
The FAA Light Sport Division (AFS610) is the ultimate authority for SP or SP FI
questions. If your Org or Examiner doesn't have the answers, don't be afraid to
call them. Here is their info:
Light Sport Aviation Branch Phone: (405) 954-6400
After the Deadline
For those
who will not meet the deadline of
If not you
have to meet the hour requirements for training and experience, but all your
logged hours while a pilot with an Org will count. The requirements in hours of
experience and training are outlined here:
61.411
Aeronautical Experience
Note:
I have a website for general SP
information and links (A good place to send your student pilots):
Sport
Pilot Training
Private Pilot WSC and PPC
There are now two Examiners who are qualified to test applicants to the Private Pilot level for WSC and very soon there will be at least one available to test applicants to the Private Pilot level for PPC. The WSC Examiners are Jim Bair and Wayne Bezner-Kerr.
Private
Pilot Weight-shift or Powered Parachute
If you are interested in studying for
the Private Pilot Powered Parachute/Weight Shift certificates then the sample
question bank for them is here:
Airman Knowledge Test Question Bank (Private Pilot Powered
Parachute/Weight Shift)
Private
Pilot Weight-shift or Powered Parachute PTS
If you are interested in certification as a Private Pilot Weight-shift or
Powered Parachute here is the link to the PTS for those:
FAA-S-8081-32, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered
Parachute and Weight Shift Control
Thanks (For all the help and suggestions) To:
Phil Dietro, SP CFI, SPE
Inland Paraflite, Inc.
http://www.paraplane.com