Are you an airplane pilot interested in how to add a Category/Class for all pilots and instructors at the sport pilot level? Are you interested in how to add a speed endorsement for an airplane sport pilot or sport pilot instructor?
These are the steps involved if you’re an airplane pilot who wants to add a Category/ Class to your pilot certificate (such as sport or private pilot airplane adding additional category sport pilot weight-shift control trike). Additionally, if you’re a sport pilot who wants to add a speed endorsement above or below 87 knots/100 MPH to your pilot certificate, this will be covered here.
What is Category and Class
To add a Category/Class to a pilot certificate, for all pilots and sport pilot Certified Flight Instructor (CFIS) this is a Proficiency Check to obtain privileges at the sport pilot level. NOTE: To add an additional private pilot category (such as airplane to weight-shift control trike), all of the requirements for a private pilot must be met. See airplane private pilot for more on this. First, let’s understand what is a category and a class.-
Category
- Airplane
- Weight-Shift Control (WSC) trike
- Powered Parachute
- Gyroplane
- Glider
-
Class
- Land
- Sea
-
Distinct Category/Classes
- Airplane Single engine Land ASEL
- Airplane Single Engine Sea ASES
- Weight-shift Control Land WSCL
- Weight-shift Control Sea WSCS
- Powered Parachute Land PPL
- Powered Parachute Sea PPS
How to Add a Category or Class
To add a category or class at the sport pilot level, two CFI’s are needed per 61.321. The first one for a recommendation, the second one for the proficiency check as follows.CFI #1
- Receive training on aeronautical knowledge and skill per § 61.309 and § 61.311 for the additional light-sport aircraft category and/or class.
- Receive logbook endorsement from this authorized instructor to take proficiency check.
- Get CFI recommendation on the FAA Form 8710-11 for proficiency check.
CFI #2
- Successfully complete a proficiency check from an authorized instructor other than the instructor who provided training and recommendation. The proficiency check for an additional category/class has all the same tasks in the Practical Test Standards (PTS) as the initial pilot checkride. The difference is that it is performed by a CFI rather than an FAA examiner or designated pilot examiner (DPE). DPE’s can, perform proficiency checks but they are acting as a flight instructor for the Proficiency check.
- Receive a logbook endorsement from the instructor who conducted the proficiency check for the additional category and/or class. This instructor will fill out the proficiency check area on the 8710-11 and send the form directly to the FAA Registry within a maximum of 10 days so the added category/class goes on the pilot’s record with the FAA. Additional category/class at the sport pilot level are not added to the plastic pilot license/certificate. They are logbook entries only.
How to Add a Speed Endorsement
For Sport Pilots, this is a single CFI logbook endorsement. Once a CFI has and additional “pilot” speed endorsement, he/she can teach in the additional speed classification. First, let’s understand what is a Speed Endorsement.- Per 61.327, Sport pilots must have a logbook endorsement, either above 87 KCAS Vh, or below 87 KCAS Vh to operate a LSA (Vh is full power level flight at standard conditions which divides the high-speed low drag aircraft from the low speed, high drag, low mass aircraft which have different flying characteristics).
- Sport pilots do not need any speed endorsement to fly solo but should get this speed endorsement before the checkride so they can fly the aircraft after the checkride.
- Per 61.303, private pilots, flying as private pilots with a medical or sport pilots without a medical, do NOT need any speed endorsement. They can fly in both speed groups.
- Receive and log ground and flight training from an authorized instructor in a Make and Model of LSA that is within the same speed range of aircraft you wish to fly.
- Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who provides training in the speed of LSA you wish to fly.