The FAA requires a minimum of 20 flight hours for a Sport Pilot Certificate (in airplanes), but in practice, most students take longer. With the new FAA changes with MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) Athlos Aviation is excited to offer the general aviation public in the Nebraska, and Iowa area an Accelerated Sport Pilot training Course.
On average:
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Typical range: 25–40 hours total time
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National average: about 30 hours is commonly reported for light-sport training (compared to ~60–70 hours for Private Pilot).
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Key factors affecting time:
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Frequency of lessons (training 2–3 times per week vs. once every couple of weeks)
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Weather delays
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Student’s preparation and study habits
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Instructor experience and continuity
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Complexity of the training aircraft and airspace
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So while a very efficient, consistent student might finish close to the 20–25 hour mark, the more realistic average is around 30–35 hours.
Athlos Aviation Accelerated Sport Pilot Training Course – $5,325 – N6000U – Cessna 162 Skycatcher
-30 hours of Flight Time – $3,825
-30 hours of instruction – $1,500
-Unlimited Sim time
-represent a 15% Hobbs discount!
What MOSAIC Changes for Sport Pilots
MOSAIC significantly expands what sport pilots can do and what aircraft they can fly, subject to training, endorsements, or medical qualifications. Here are the main enhancements:
| New Privilege / Change | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Wider range of aircraft | Sport pilots will be allowed to fly many more existing aircraft that were previously excluded. Under the new rules, the aircraft’s eligibility is based on performance parameters instead of strict weight limits. E.g., clean stall speed (VS1) must be ≤ 59 knots. AVweb+2Experimental Aircraft Association+2 |
| Removal of 1,320 lb weight cap | Previously LSAs were capped by a max takeoff weight; now that limit is removed. Instead, performance (stall speed) is used as the governing limit. Wings Flight Enterprises+2General Aviation News+2 |
| Allowance for four-seat aircraft designs | Aircraft with up to four seats may be certified as LSAs (or experimental LSAs, etc.). However, sport pilots are still limited to one passenger. Experimental Aircraft Association+2Wings Flight Enterprises+2 |
| Retractable landing gear / constant-speed propellers | Previously forbidden for LSAs/sport pilots; under MOSAIC these become allowable features, provided the pilot receives the appropriate endorsements and training. AVweb+2Kitplanes+2 |
| Night flying | Sport pilots may fly at night after obtaining proper training and endorsements. But there’s a caveat: flying at night requires holding at least a third-class FAA medical certificate or BasicMed. Kitplanes+2Experimental Aircraft Association+2 |
| Use of Driver’s License for Medical | For many operations, a valid U.S. driver’s license can serve in lieu of an FAA medical certificate (or BasicMed) under certain conditions. “Driver’s license medical” allows sport pilots and others exercising sport pilot privileges to fly without a full aviation medical in many cases. Experimental Aircraft Association+2Wings Flight Enterprises+2 |
| Increased speeds | Maximum level flight speeds for eligible aircraft go up (up to ~250 knots) while still requiring a stall speed within the new limit. This opens up higher-performance aircraft to sport‐pilot type operations. AVweb+2Wings Flight Enterprises+2 |
| Expanded “complexity” options via endorsements | More complex aircraft features (retractable gear, constant speed props, etc.) can be used if the pilot has proper endorsements. Endorsements become a way to layer in more privileges rather than needing a whole new certificate for each. |
