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Subpart J · Van Nuys Airport
Sport Pilot Endorsements: The Four That Decide What You Can Actually Do
The sport pilot certificate is unusual in that most of its privileges arrive as logbook endorsements rather than as ratings. There are four that matter: 14 CFR 61.325 for towered airports and Class B, C and D airspace, 61.327 for cruise speed, 61.329 for night, and 61.331 for retractable gear and a manual controllable-pitch propeller.
61.325 · towered airports61.327 · VH above 87 kt61.329 · night5.0 ★ · 120+ Google reviews
4endorsements that widen sport pilot privileges
3full-stop landings at a towered airport under 14 CFR 61.325(b)
87 ktthe VH threshold in 14 CFR 61.327
5.0 ★120+ Google reviews
How it works
Why Does A Sport Pilot Need Endorsements At All?
Because subpart J is written as a narrow certificate with doors in it. 14 CFR 61.315(c) lists what a sport pilot may not do, and several of those prohibitions end with a cross-reference: unless you have met the requirements specified in another section. Meeting those requirements and getting the logbook endorsement is what opens the door.
There is no checkride attached to any of them and no FAA paperwork. Your instructor certifies in your logbook that you received the training and are proficient, and from that moment the privilege is yours. That makes them cheap and quick relative to a rating, and it also makes them easy to under-train, which is why an instructor who sends you back for more circuits is doing the job properly.
One of the four is not optional if you train in Los Angeles. Van Nuys is Class D with an operating control tower, so 14 CFR 61.325 is a prerequisite for operating here at all — you get it as part of learning to fly here, not as an extra you buy later.
MOSAIC added the fourth. 14 CFR 61.329, the night endorsement, did not exist before 22 October 2025 because night flying was prohibited outright.
The full set
Every Sport Pilot Endorsement, What It Needs And What It Gives You
Four endorsements, plus the route in 14 CFR 61.321 for adding a category or class of aircraft. 14 CFR 61.317 is the section that explains why it works that way: a sport pilot certificate is issued without category and class ratings, so the privileges live in logbook endorsements.
| Endorsement | What it requires | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| 14 CFR 61.325 — towered airports and Class B, C, D | Ground and flight training in radios, communications, navigation systems and facilities, and radar services; three takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower; and the part 91 rules for Class B, C and D and ATC clearances. | Operating in Class B, C or D airspace, at an airport in that airspace, and to, from, through or at any airport with an operating control tower. Without it, 14 CFR 61.315(c)(7) closes all of that — including Van Nuys. |
| 14 CFR 61.327 — cruise speed | Ground and flight training from an authorized instructor and a logbook endorsement, in an aircraft on the relevant side of the VH threshold. | 14 CFR 61.315(c)(14) restricts operations by VH. 87 knots CAS is the dividing line: 61.327(a) covers aircraft with a VH of 87 knots CAS or less, 61.327(b) covers those above it. |
| 14 CFR 61.329 — night | 3 hours of night flight training in the category and class, one night cross-country with a landing at an airport at least 25 NM away, 10 night takeoffs and 10 full-stop landings, an instructor endorsement — and a part 67 medical certificate or BasicMed under 14 CFR 61.113(i). | Flying at night. New with MOSAIC on 22 October 2025; before that 14 CFR 61.315(c)(5) prohibited it outright. |
| 14 CFR 61.331(a) — retractable landing gear | Either the training and endorsement in 14 CFR 61.31(e), or ground and flight training from an authorized instructor with an endorsement certifying proficiency. | Flying an aircraft with retractable landing gear, which 14 CFR 61.316(a)(8) otherwise excludes and 61.315(c)(20)(i) otherwise prohibits. |
| 14 CFR 61.331(b) — manual controllable-pitch propeller | The same two routes as 61.331(a). | Flying an airplane with a manual controllable-pitch propeller. Note that an automated controllable-pitch propeller is already permitted by 14 CFR 61.316(a)(9) with no endorsement. |
| 14 CFR 61.321 — additional category or class of aircraft | A logbook endorsement that you meet the aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency requirements, and then, for airplane single-engine land or sea and rotorcraft-helicopter, a practical test under 61.321(b). For every other category and class it is a proficiency check under 61.321(a) from an authorized instructor other than the one who trained you. | Sport pilot privileges are granted by category and class through logbook endorsements rather than by adding ratings to the certificate — which is what 14 CFR 61.317 says. Single-engine airplane is the class we teach, so the practical test is the route that applies here. |
Read those cross-references carefully. 14 CFR 61.315(c) is the list of prohibitions; the endorsement sections are the exceptions to them. Neither makes sense read on its own.
The one you cannot avoid
Getting The 14 CFR 61.325 Endorsement At Van Nuys
Van Nuys is a Class D airport with an operating control tower and it sits under the LAX Class B shelf. There is no version of training here that does not involve talking to a controller, which is why students who learn at Van Nuys pick up the radio faster than students who learn at a quiet field.
01
Ground Training First
Radio phraseology, the structure of a clearance, what the tower is actually asking for, and the part 91 rules for Class B, C and D. Most of this happens on the ground and in the simulator, where it costs a great deal less than in the aircraft.
02
Radar Services And Navigation
14 CFR 61.325(a) names navigation systems, facilities and radar services alongside radios. Under the LAX shelf, knowing what flight following is and how to ask for it is a practical skill, not a theory item.
03
Three Full-Stop Landings At A Towered Field
14 CFR 61.325(b) requires three takeoffs and landings to a full stop, each involving a flight in the traffic pattern, at an airport with an operating control tower. At Van Nuys that is a normal Tuesday.
04
The Endorsement
Your instructor writes it in your logbook. From that point 14 CFR 61.315(c)(7) no longer stops you from operating in Class B, C or D airspace or at towered airports.
05
What It Does Not Cover
It is not a Class B clearance in itself. You still need an ATC clearance to enter Class B, and Class A remains closed to sport pilots outright under 14 CFR 61.315(c)(6).
06
Where To Practice It Cheaply
The Redbird MCX. Radio work is the single most transferable thing in the simulator, and a $189 session buys more repetitions than an hour in the airplane does.
Practicalities
Six Things Worth Knowing About Sport Pilot Endorsements
These are the questions that come up once someone has read subpart J and started joining the cross-references together.
1
They Live In Your Logbook, Not On Your Certificate
Your plastic certificate will not list them. The logbook endorsement is the legal record, which is a good argument for keeping the logbook somewhere you will not lose it and photographing the pages.
2
They Are Category And Class Specific
The night endorsement in 14 CFR 61.329 is written for the category and class you trained in. So is the additional category and class privilege in 61.321. Privileges do not travel between categories on their own.
3
61.331 Can Be Satisfied Two Ways
Both 61.331(a) and (b) accept either the 14 CFR 61.31(e) complex-aircraft training and endorsement, or separate ground and flight training with a proficiency endorsement. If you already hold the 61.31(e) endorsement, you are done.
4
An Automated Controllable-Pitch Propeller Needs Nothing
14 CFR 61.316(a)(9) permits a fixed, ground-adjustable or automated controllable-pitch propeller. Only a manual controllable-pitch propeller engages 61.331(b). That distinction matters more since MOSAIC than it used to.
5
The Night One Has A Medical Condition Attached
14 CFR 61.329(b) is not a training item. No amount of instruction substitutes for a part 67 medical certificate or BasicMed, and an instructor cannot endorse around it.
6
Nobody Should Sign An Endorsement You Have Not Earned
An endorsement is a proficiency statement written by a named instructor with a certificate number. It is not an attendance record. If you are asked to fly more circuits, that is the system working.
The fleet
Which Of Our Aircraft Engage Which Endorsement
We own and maintain the fleet. Sport training here is flown in the two-seat Cessna 162.
The Piper Arrow II has retractable gear and a controllable-pitch propeller, so it engages both 14 CFR 61.331(a) and (b) before 61.316 is even reached. The Piper Seminole is a twin, and 14 CFR 61.316(a)(5) requires an aircraft on which the loss of partial power would not adversely affect directional control. We have not verified a VS1 figure for the Seminole or for the Cirrus SR22 Turbo to publication standard, so we do not print one for either, and we do not offer either as a sport pilot airplane. Detail on the MOSAIC aircraft eligibility page.
Redbird MCX
Where The Radio Endorsement Is Actually Cheap To Earn
FAA-approved, fully enclosed, and it moves. Everything 14 CFR 61.325(a) asks for — radios, navigation facilities, radar services — can be rehearsed here at a fraction of what the same repetitions cost in the aircraft.
Simulator hours are built into every program we run. A standalone Redbird session is $189.
Your instructor
The Instructor Who Signs It Is Putting Their Certificate Behind It
Every instructor here holds a commercial or ATP certificate plus a CFI and a current medical, and the instructor is legally pilot in command on every flight you take with them. There are eleven of them.
An endorsement is signed with a name and a certificate number, and it says the holder is proficient. That is a professional statement, not a receipt. We would rather add a lesson than sign something that is not true, and if you are ever offered an endorsement you do not feel ready for, that is a reason to ask questions rather than to be pleased.
What people say
5.0 ★ · 120+ Google Reviews
Three things come up again and again in what people write about training here, and none of them is the price.
★
The Debrief, Not The Flight
The most repeated compliment in our reviews is not the airplane and it is not the ramp. It is that somebody sat down afterwards and explained what happened.
★
Lessons That Actually Happen
Eleven instructors and a fleet we own and maintain ourselves. Reviewers mention scheduling more than anything else, which tells you what most schools get wrong.
★
The Number Does Not Move
What you enroll at is what you finish at. On an $8,400 package that promise is the entire point, and people write about it because it is not universal.
Programs and prices
What It Costs, And Both Ways To Start
Endorsements are trained inside the programs below rather than sold separately, because the sequence depends on your logbook. Book a free consultation and we will scope it against what you already hold.
Start here
Sport Pilot Certificate
$8,400 / complete
The full FAA sport pilot certificate at $8,400, including the 14 CFR 61.325 endorsement you need to operate at Van Nuys at all. Flown on a valid US driver license under 14 CFR 61.23(c)(1).
Standard Private Pilot
$10,900 / 40 hrs logged
Towered-airport operations and night flying are inside the certificate rather than arriving as separate endorsements, and there is no 14 CFR 61.316 aircraft restriction.
Comprehensive Private Pilot
$15,900 / 60 hrs logged
Our most chosen private pilot program. 55 hours single-engine, 5 hours in the Redbird and 10 hours of ground school, which is roughly the national average built into the price.
Solo Certificate
$5,500 / to first solo
For people whose whole ambition is the moment the instructor climbs out. Not a certificate to carry passengers, but every hour counts toward sport or private afterwards.
Discovery Flight For One
$229 / 60 min
A real lesson. You fly the aircraft, the time is loggable dual instruction, and the full $229 is credited against any program if you enroll within 24 hours.
Redbird Simulator Session
$189 / session
An hour in the full-motion Redbird MCX with an instructor. A cheap way to find out whether you can handle radio work before you spend anything on an airplane.
Fall Special: $500 off any private pilot program through 31 October 2026. Standard $10,400 · Comprehensive $15,400 · Premium $22,000. Ask when you enroll. The sport pilot package stays at $8,400.
Next step
Bring Your Logbook And We Will Map The Endorsements You Still Need
Half an hour at Van Nuys, free, and you leave with a written list of what you hold and what is missing. If you have not flown yet, start with the $229 discovery flight instead.
Discovery Flight For One
$229
60 minutes · you fly the aircraft · credited in full on enrollment within 24 hours
MOSAIC And The New Rules
The MOSAIC rule and what it changedSport pilot night flying under 14 CFR 61.329Does my aircraft qualify under 14 CFR 61.316?Sport pilot medical requirementsLight sport aircraft rules after MOSAICSport pilot license cost in Los AngelesSources
Every regulation and rulemaking cited on this page, at its primary source. Links open in a new tab.
- Federal Register — MOSAIC Final Rule, 90 FR 35034, 24 July 2025
- FAA Advisory Circular AC 61-146, Pilot Certification And Operations For Sport Pilots
- eCFR — 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart J, Sport Pilot Rules
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.316, Aircraft Performance Limits And Design Requirements
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.325, Towered Airports And Class B, C And D Airspace
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.329, Night Privileges
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.331, Retractable Gear And Manual Controllable-Pitch Propellers
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.315, Sport Pilot Privileges And Limits
- eCFR — 14 CFR 61.113, Private Pilot Privileges And Limitations
FAQ
Sport Pilot Endorsements: The Questions We Get Asked
Four widen sport pilot privileges: 14 CFR 61.325 for Class B, C and D airspace and towered airports; 14 CFR 61.327 for cruise speed either side of the 87 knot CAS VH threshold; 14 CFR 61.329 for night; and 14 CFR 61.331 for retractable landing gear and a manual controllable-pitch propeller. 14 CFR 61.321 covers adding a category or class, and for airplane single-engine land or sea it requires a practical test rather than a proficiency check.
Only with the 14 CFR 61.325 endorsement. 14 CFR 61.315(c)(7) prohibits a sport pilot from Class B, C and D airspace and from any airport with an operating control tower without it. Van Nuys is Class D, so every student who trains here holds it.
Ground and flight training covering the use of radios, communications, navigation systems and facilities and radar services; operations at a towered airport including three takeoffs and landings to a full stop, each with a flight in the traffic pattern; and the part 91 rules for Class B, C and D airspace and ATC clearances. Then a logbook endorsement.
No. Each of these is a logbook endorsement written by an authorized instructor certifying training and proficiency. There is no practical test, no FAA form and no fee.
14 CFR 61.315(c)(14) restricts sport pilot operations by VH, the maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power. 87 knots CAS is the dividing line: 61.327(a) covers aircraft at or below it and 61.327(b) covers aircraft above it, each with its own training and endorsement.
A sport pilot may fly an aircraft with retractable landing gear or a manual controllable-pitch propeller with the 14 CFR 61.331 endorsements, provided the aircraft otherwise meets 14 CFR 61.316. 61.331 accepts either the 14 CFR 61.31(e) training and endorsement or separate proficiency training.
Only for a manual one. 14 CFR 61.316(a)(9) already permits a fixed, ground-adjustable or automated controllable-pitch propeller with no endorsement. 14 CFR 61.331(b) applies to a manual controllable-pitch propeller.
Yes. 14 CFR 61.329 was created by the MOSAIC final rule at 90 FR 35034 and took effect on 22 October 2025. Before that, 14 CFR 61.315(c)(5) prohibited sport pilot night flight with no exception.
No. They are recorded as logbook endorsements, not printed on the plastic certificate. Keep the logbook safe and photograph the endorsement pages.
Not here. It is trained inside the $8,400 sport pilot package, because Van Nuys is a Class D field with an operating control tower and there is no way to conduct training here without it.
No Cost, No Obligation
Get The Full Training Plan And Price Sheet
The three private pilot packages, what each one includes, the financing options and a realistic timeline built around how often you can actually fly. Sent to you in one email. Nobody will pressure you.
- Every package price, itemised
- Financing from $2,500 down
- A timeline based on your schedule
Loved On Google
Over 120 Reviews. 5.0 Stars.
Every review below is real and shown verbatim, in the reviewer’s own words — written by the people who learned to fly here, not by us.
SAFETY FIRST
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
SUNSET CIRRUS
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
FLYING LESSON
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
HONEYMOON SURPRISE
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
FULL-MOTION SIM
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
DISCOVERY FOR TWO
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
SIMULATORS
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
TEEN FIRST LESSON
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
SAFETY FIRST
★★★★★
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
DISCOVERY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
SUNSET CIRRUS
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
FLYING LESSON
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
HONEYMOON SURPRISE
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
FULL-MOTION SIM
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
DISCOVERY FOR TWO
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
SIMULATORS
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
TEEN FIRST LESSON
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
FIRST-TIME FLYER
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
See Discovery Flight Details — $229
Reviews shown verbatim, exactly as each reviewer published them.
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Notes from the flight line at Van Nuys — weather, regulation changes, checkride questions and the cost of training, written up as they come.
Van Nuys Airport · KVNY
(818) 290-8249
7900 Balboa Blvd. Suite 108A
Van Nuys, CA 91406 Get directions →
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Open 7 days · 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Los Angeles Flight School7900 Balboa Blvd. Suite 108A
Van Nuys, CA 91406 Get directions →
★★★★★
5.0 · 120+ Google reviews