Current Sport and Private Pilots

Are you a current sport or private pilot? If so, a whole new world of opportunity has opened up for you.

Sport Pilot 2.0 opens the door to new possibilities and expanded privileges to current sport pilots and private pilots exercising sport pilot privileges. Gone are the days of outdated weight limits. The new era of recreational aviation is now based on performance characteristics of the aircraft, meaning 70 percent of the current single-engine piston fleet is now sport pilot eligible.

What can sport pilots now take advantage of starting on October 22, 2025?

Expanded choice of existing and new aircraft to fly: No more 1,320-pound weight limit, providing access to a wider range of aircraft for sport pilots.

• Sport pilot eligible aircraft must have met the following criteria since original certification:
  • A clean stall speed (VS1) of 59 knots or less.
  • Four seats or fewer (sport pilots can carry one passenger).
  • Must have a single engine (sport pilots are not eligible for a multi-engine rating).

• Expands the potential for new aircraft entering the market, and expands the options of various categories providing more choices and greater flexibility to aircraft owners (i.e. E-LSA) including ready-to-fly and almost-ready-to-fly aircraft.
• Provides an easier transition and more standardization between training aircraft, rental aircraft, and potential ownership.
• Increases available sport pilot eligible rental aircraft at local flight schools and FBOs.

Extends pilot privileges to activities such as night flying: Sport pilots are permitted to fly at night with the proper endorsements. This is limited to sport pilots holding an FAA third-class medical certificate (or higher) or BasicMed.

Operate higher performing and more capable aircraft: With proper endorsements, sport pilots can fly aircraft with retractable landing gear and manually controllable pitch propellers, thus providing more utility and expanded options for personal transportation. As a current private pilot, Sport Pilot 2.0 makes it more attractive to access the privileges of a now more robust sport pilot certificate. This gives private pilots a choice in the medical process and what route they wish to pursue.

Fly many more existing airplanes with a driver’s license as your medical: Under the new rule, sport pilots can fly aircraft with up to four seats, a “clean” stall speed (VS1) of 59 knots calibrated or less, and a maximum level flight speed (VH) of 250 knots calibrated. These changes allow more aircraft to be eligible to be flown by a sport pilot or someone exercising sport pilot privileges.

• Avoid the uncertainty, hassle, and potential expense of dealing with the current medical processes (including a one-time special issuance for BasicMed) with the simplicity of using a driver’s license as your medical certificate.
• The process to switch to exercising sport pilot privileges as a private pilot or higher is simple. You can exercise sport pilot privileges under your existing pilot certificate beginning October 22, 2025, without any additional paperwork or checkride. Simply familiarize yourself with sport pilot privileges and fly accordingly.
• You now have access to all the aircraft that are sport pilot eligible while exercising sport pilot privileges, meaning you can continue to fly what you want without carrying your third-class medical or BasicMed certification.