14 CFR §61.309
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
To apply for a sport pilot certificate you must receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course on the following aeronautical knowledge areas:
- (a)Applicable regulations of this chapter that relate to sport pilot privileges, limits, and flight operations.
- (b)Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board.
- (c)Use of the applicable portions of the aeronautical information manual and FAA advisory circulars.
- (d)Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage, dead reckoning, and navigation systems, as appropriate.
- (e)Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts.
- (f)Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance, and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence.
- (g)Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance.
- (h)Weight and balance computations.
- (i)Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems.
- (j)Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques, as applicable.
- (k)Aeronautical decision making and risk management.
- (l)Preflight actions that include—