In 2004, the FAA established a new license type called the Sport Pilot Certificate. Sport pilots were originally allowed to fly simple and slow aircraft that included some, but not most club gliders.
Sport Pilot privileges were greatly expanded in October 2025 to permit the flying of more capable aircraft, now including all gliders in the GBSC inventory.
The (really) big Picture
A sport pilot
- may not fly above 10,000 feet
- may not fly outside the US
- is restricted to flying aircraft that meet the Light Sport Aircraft definition
- is restricted in many other ways
What does this mean to GBSC members?
- A sport pilot may not take advantage of the 10,000+ foot thermals, possible in the spring in our area, or the fall wave flights at Mt. Washington - which some times exceed 25,000 feet.
- The minimum required flight experience for a Sport Pilot rating is only slightly lower than for a Private Pilot rating - and almost everyone will need a lot more.
- A sport pilot applicant still has to meet the same solo flight requirements.
- A sport pilot applicant still has to take a formal FAA Knowledge (AKA written) test.
For these reasons, among others, the club recommends that glider students should select the Private Pilot certificate as their certificate "destination".
For more information, see frequently-asked-questions-about-sport-pilot.