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What is a Sport Pilot License vs a Private License?
A Sport Pilot License allows you to fly any airplane certificated as LSA, with only a few restrictions compared to a private pilot license. But it also allows you to fly some FUN, NEW airplanes that are surprisingly inexpensive! The Private Pilot License is what you’ll want if you’re a career pilot or looking to get your instrument rating or fly for business, but if you just want to enjoy flying as a hobby, the Sport Pilot License may be for you.
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Private Pilot
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Sport Pilot
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Total # Hours
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40
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20
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What can you fly
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Light Sport Airplanes
”Regular” Airplanes
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Only Light Sport Airplanes (see below)
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Where can you fly
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Anywhere,
Any distance
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Anywhere in the US,
Any distance except near busy airports like Boston
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Weather
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Day or Night VFR; IFR with instrument rating
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Day VFR
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How many passengers
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Up to 5 passengers for typical GA airplanes
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No more than 1 passenger
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The biggest difference between the sport pilot license and the private? No requirement to fly at night, less “cross-country” flying, and HALF the total time.
Getting a sport license can probably save you $3000 in training costs... and get you flying sooner too.
So what is a light sport airplane?
- It’s a fully tested and certificated airplane, similar to other general aviation airplanes (i.e., not “Experimental”)
- It must weigh less than 1320 lbs, have a max (level flight) cruise speed below 120 knots, and can have only 2 seats.
We have for rent and training some of the best light sport airplanes around, the very best we could find after an extensive search. They are well built, stable, and easy for a new pilot to master. They’re also BRAND NEW airplanes! They can be flown by student pilots of all types, private pilots, sport pilots, and are available for rent for solo flight just like our other aircraft.
Check out our Prices Page for details and our Aircraft page for information on these airplanes and the rest of our fleet. Also read this interesting article on the Gobosh!
Here are some additional links if you’d like more information on the Sport Pilot License or aircraft:
Sport Pilot Organization of EAA
FAA information page on Light Sport
And click here for a sample syllabus outline of our sport pilot training program.
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