What is the difference between a sport pilot's license and a private pilot's license?

Question

What is the difference between a sport pilot's license and a private pilot's license?

Answer 1

Sport Pilot cannot add an instrument rating. Must fly VFR.

Sport Pilot must fly at or below 10,000 MSL.

Sport Pilot cannot fly at night.

Sport Pilot cannot fly in Class B airspace (I think all class B; it may be just some class B).

Sport Pilot cannot fly in controlled airspace that requires communication with ATC unless he or she has a sign-off from an instructor that has given the person instruction in radio communications.

Sport Pilot cannot perform the same maintenance tasks as a Private Pilot.

Sport Pilot cannot serve in the same roles as a Private Pilot, such as being the safety pilot for an instrument rated pilot flying under the hood for currency.

Sport Pilot can only fly Light Sport Airplanes (there are also balloons and other types of aircraft; I'm only familiar with LSA). These are limited to 1320 lbs gross weight, 1 passenger, and 120 kts cruise.

Sport Pilot doesn't require a medical certificate, but does require the pilot to be medically qualified to hold a driver's license in his or her state.

Training requirements are about 20 hours less than Private Pilot. Some training can be fulfilled in a non-LSA aircraft, but solo and checkride must be in an LSA.

Answer 2

Some of the requirements for sport pilot and private pilot are identical. Age limits are 16 for a student license and 17 for a permanent license except for unpowered aircraft (gliders and balloons), where the minimum ages are 14 and 16 respectively. Applicants must read and understand English. They must have logged a minimum of 15 hours of dual instruction and 5 hours of solo flight time for the sport pilot license and must pass a written exam and a flight test. A major difference is medical qualification. The light sport license requires only possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license, although a Class III or higher FAA medical is also acceptable. Sport glider and balloon pilots would need only a self-statement of medical fitness. The sport pilot license allows flying only aircraft that qualify by definition for the light-sport category and only in day VFR conditions.