Sport Pilot Instructors and Flight Schools

There are basically two ways to get Sport Pilot training:

1. Sign up with an established flight school or flying club
2. Sign on with an independent CFI (Certified Flight Instructor)

Which way is right for you depends on a number of factors, such as your geographic location and proximity to a flying school, your schedule, financial factors, personal preference, and whether you already have some aviation training under your belt.

Whether you choose a formal school or an independent CFI, there are two major aspects to Sport Pilot training: Practical (flight) training, and knowledge training. Naturally, there's a lot of overlap between the two: What you learn on the ground will be put you use in the air, and what you learn in the air will reinforce what you read in the books.

But generally speaking, practical (flight) training usually happens in an aircraft (or at least at an airport) and consists of hands-on instruction in safely operating and navigating an aircraft, performing pre-flight and post-flight procedures, ground operation, using navigational aids, etc.

Knowledge training may be accomplished at a formal ground school, through home study, using online courses, or through one-on-one sessions with your flight instructor. Knowledge training includes things like learning Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's), aerodynamic theory, operational procedures for different types of airspace, interpreting weather reports, and so forth.

Finding an Instructor or Flight School

The Sport Pilot program is growing rapidly, and it's probable that training is offered at an airport near you. So your first step in finding a Sport Pilot training program should be to call a local flight school. If they don't offer Sport Pilot training, they'll probably know someone who does.

We're also trying to build up a national database of flight schools and independent CFI's who offer Sport Pilot training, which you can access by clicking on the two-letter abbreviation for your state in the map below.

Of course, we know our database is incomplete. New instructors are being added all the time, and old ones do retire.

So if you're a flight school or independent CFI offering Sport Pilot training, please help us make this site more useful by getting yourself listed in our database. Please click here for instructions.

Finding an Examiner

Once you are ready to take your practical test, you will need to find an SPE (Sport Pilot Examiner). SPE's are authorized by FAA to administer the oral and practical examinations and to grant you your Temporary Airman Certificate on the spot once you pass.

Many of the instructors listed in our database also are SPE's; and if we are aware of this, we include that designation after the type(s) of aircraft they instruct in. But because we're not always aware of this information, here are links to the FAA's official lists. (Please note that these lists tend to be a few months behind, so there may be SPE's in your area who are not yet listed.)

• Airplane
• Glider
• Gyroplane
• Powered Parachute
• Weight-Shift Control