What You Need to Pass the Sport Pilot Knowledge Exam

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To obtain a sport pilot license you need to pass both a practical FAA flight exam and a written test (except that the test is now done on a computer at an approved FAA location).

You must be at least 15 years old to take the knowledge exam and the exam results are good for 24 months. The assumption here is that you'll take the FAA practical flight test (also referred to as the checkride) within 24 months of taking the knowledge exam. If you don't take the practical flight test within 24 months of passing the knowledge exam you'll have to retake the knowledge exam.

The knowledge exam consists of a 40 question, multiple choice exam. You are given 2 hours to complete the test. A score of 70% is considered passing. There are several locations where you can take these exams in your local area. Click here to find out where they are.

Rod Machado's Sport Pilot Handbook is the only knowledge source you need to prepare you for the sport pilot knowledge exam. That's right. No need to purchase several different books on weather, regulations, procedures, navigation and son on. It's all contained in this one book.

The sport pilot knowledge exam is category specific.When you enter the testing facility to take this exam you'll be asked if you want to take the Sport: airplane, balloon, airship, glider, powered parachute, weight-shift-control or gyroplane exam. The Sport Pilot Handbook and Workbook will prepare you for the Sport Pilot Airplane exam only.

The sport pilot airplane's knowledge exam's questions (click here to see a list of all these questions) tests your knowledge the following areas:

  • Airplanes and Aerodynamics
  • Airplane Engines, Systems and Instruments
  • Airports and Airspace
  • Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Aeromedical Factors and Aviation Decision Making
  • Aviation Weather and Aviation Weather Services
  • Basic Navigation (i.e., pilotage, dead reckoning) and Flight Planning
  • Airplane Performance and Weight and Balance

Is this a tough exam to pass? In my opinion it's very difficult to fail this exam if you read my Sport Pilot Handbook and practice answering questions in a good written test guide, such as the one offered by Gleim at this page.

I wrote, designed and published the sport pilot book to be a fun and enjoyable means of learning what you need to know to pass the knowledge exam and to become a safe pilot. It's based on over 40 years of aviation experience teaching others how to fly airplanes safely. Take a look at some of the comments I've received over the years and you'll realize it's a thorough, fun and enjoyable way to learn.