14 CFR § 61.409 - What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s61.409"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 61.409 - What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?"
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "61.409"
section_name: "What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?"
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "AIRMEN"
part_number: "61"
part_name: "CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302."
regulatory_source: "Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "61"
---


# 61.409 What flight proficiency requirements must I meet to apply for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

You must receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the following areas of operation for the aircraft category and class in which you seek flight instructor privileges:

(a) Technical subject areas.

(b) Preflight preparation.

(c) Preflight lesson on a maneuver to be performed in flight.

(d) Preflight procedures.

(e) Airport, heliport, seaplane base, and gliderport operations, as applicable.

(f) Hovering maneuvers (applicable only to helicopters).

(g) Takeoffs (or launches), landings, and go-arounds.

(h) Fundamentals of flight.

(i) Performance maneuvers and, for gliders, performance speeds.

(j) Ground reference maneuvers (except for gliders, helicopters, and lighter-than-air).

(k) Soaring techniques (gliders only).

(l) Slow flight (not applicable to lighter-than-air, helicopters, and powered parachutes).

(m) Stalls (not applicable to lighter-than-air, powered parachutes, helicopters, and gyroplanes).

(n) Spins (applicable to airplanes and gliders).

(o) Emergency operations.

(p) Tumble entry and avoidance techniques (applicable to weight-shift-control aircraft).

(q) Special operations (helicopter only).

(r) Post-flight procedures.

[Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35216, July 24, 2025]