EAA Requests Clarification on Sport CFI Privileges

On April 10, 2026, the FAA issued InFO 26006, addressing endorsements and training issued by flight instructors with sport pilot ratings to pilots holding certificates higher than sport pilot (recreational, private, commercial, and airline transport pilot). The InFO was issued to provide clarification in response to several questions received by the FAA regarding the privileges and limitations of flight instructors with a sport pilot rating issued under 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart K.

EAA appreciates the FAA’s efforts to address questions raised by industry since the release of the MOSAIC final rule at AirVenture 2025. However, EAA is concerned that InFO 26006 provides an interpretation inconsistent with prior FAA guidance in place since the original 2004 Sport Pilot Rule and with industry practice over the past 20 years.

The InFO states that flight instructors with a sport pilot rating (Subpart K) are not authorized to give training, endorsements, or flight reviews pertaining to privileges at the recreational pilot certificate level or higher. The InFO goes on to state that flight reviews (61.56) and endorsements to fly tailwheel, high-performance, or complex aircraft (61.31) given by a flight instructor with a sport pilot rating to anyone with a higher certificate than sport pilot should include a statement “and is limited to sport pilot privileges and limitations (Subpart J).” If, for example, a private pilot received a flight review or an endorsement from a flight instructor with a sport pilot rating, they would be limited to exercising applicable privileges at the sport pilot level but no higher.

EAA questions whether this additional language in the endorsement is required and appropriate and has engaged with the FAA to request additional clarification. Our concerns center around the idea that a flight review required by 61.56 and the endorsements required in 61.31 are not specific to any level of pilot certificate and should not be limited based on either the level of pilot certificate held by the person receiving the endorsement or the level of flight instructor certificate held by the person issuing the endorsement.

EAA is concerned that a change to the longstanding industry understanding and application of these requirements and the privileges and limitations of the flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating could have significant unintended consequences to the flight training industry.