FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)RegulationsHard
A sport pilot has three friends who each want to go flying in a light-sport airplane that seats two occupants. Under 14 CFR 61.315, what is the maximum number of passengers the sport pilot may carry on a single flight?
- AThree passengers, as long as weight and balance limits are not exceeded
- BOne passenger, consistent with both the two-seat LSA design and sport pilot privilege limits
- CNo passengers may be carried until the pilot upgrades to a private pilot certificate
- DTwo passengers, one in the front seat and one in a jump seat
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. One passenger, consistent with both the two-seat LSA design and sport pilot privilege limits
14 CFR 61.315(c)(9) specifically limits a sport pilot to acting as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying no more than one passenger. This aligns with the light-sport aircraft definition, which limits LSA to a maximum of two occupants (pilot plus one passenger).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A two-seat LSA physically cannot carry three passengers, and the regulation limits sport pilots to one passenger regardless.
- C. Sport pilots are permitted to carry one passenger without needing to upgrade certificates.
- D. LSAs are limited to two seats total; a jump seat configuration would violate the LSA definition.
Sport Pilot Passenger Limit
A sport pilot may carry no more than one passenger at a time, consistent with the two-seat maximum for light-sport aircraft.
- 14 CFR 61.315(c)(9) caps passengers at one
- LSA definition limits aircraft to 2 occupants total
- Passenger currency (61.57) still applies separately
Memory trick: Sport pilot = 'party of two' max, pilot plus one