Sporty's Academy, Inc.
Flight Training Department
Courses for Students with Previous Flight Experience
RECREATIONAL PILOT | PRIVATE PILOT | INSTRUMENT RATING | COMMERCIAL PILOT
Credit for Previous Flight Time
Under FAR 141 an approved school is limited to the amount of previous flight experience for which a student may be given credit. Previous flight experience in another FAR 141 approved school may be credited upon satisfactory completion of appropriate knowledge and flight tests by the receiving school. The amount of credit received may not exceed 50% of the curriculum requirements of the course. Credit for flight experience not obtained in a FAR 141 approved school is limited to not more than 25% of the flight experience required to graduate from the approved course of training. The amount of credit granted within that limitation is to be determined by appropriate knowledge and flight tests.
Flight Instruction From Instructors not Certificated by the FAA
Flight instruction received from instructors not certificated by the FAA may be credited toward the requirements for pilot certificates and ratings. The instructor must be authorized to give flight instruction by the authority of a state contracting to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the flight instruction is given outside the United States.
Pilot Certificate Issued on the Basis of a Foreign Pilot License
Foreign pilots may receive a U.S. Private Pilot Certificate with appropriate ratings if they hold a current foreign pilot license. A U.S. Private Pilot Certificate will only be issued to foreign pilots who are licensed by a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The pilot is required to hold a current U.S. medical certificate or current medical certificate issued by the country that issued the person's foreign pilot license and is also required to read, speak, write and understand the English language. A pilot who holds an instrument rating on their foreign pilot license may receive an instrument rating on their U.S. Private Pilot Certificate as long as they have passed the appropriate knowledge test in the preceding 24 months.
Pilot Certification Under FAR 61
Because of the FAR 141 limitations on the amount and type of previous flight experience allowed to be credited, certification under FAR 61 is more practical for pilots with substantial or varied flight experience. As an example, the FAR 61 requirement for a Commercial Airplane Pilot Certificate is for 250 hours of pilot flight time. Upon closer examination, as little as 100 hours in powered aircraft is required. Of the total 250 hours 50 hours could be in a simulator and the other 100 hours could be in gliders. Hours establish eligibility to take the practical test. Pilot proficiency and ability determine the recommendation for, and the outcome of the practical test.
In Closing
All previous flight experience must be verified by appropriate records. Prospective students with previous flight experience should forward a complete listing of their flight experience. We will be able to determine the hours and type of flight experience necessary to meet minimum experience requirements. It should be understood that we would need to make a flight and written evaluation in order to estimate the hours needed to reach the proficiency level required by the pilot certificate or rating.
RECREATIONAL PILOT | PRIVATE PILOT | INSTRUMENT RATING | COMMERCIAL PILOT