# Presentation: 673359

## Aircraft and Pilot Overview

**Light Sport Aviation**

## Goals of Light Sport Effort

**Develop aircraft design & airworthiness standards for the unregulated segment of the aircraft market.**
**Develop pilot standards for sport pilots – they previously did not exist.**
**Target continuous improvement of GA safety by leveraging Light Sport Aviation industry experience and maturity.**
**Provide standardization and minimum requirements for existing and new designs.**

## Expected Level of Safety for LSA

**The expected level of safety of an LSA is not the same as Part 23 certificated products, nor is the level of FAA oversight the same**
- LSA Rule raises the level of safety (via Consensus Standards) on a previously unregulated segment of aviation
- Bridges gap between Ultralights and Part 23.
- Raise the level of safety, but still _not_ expected to meet Part 23.

## Expected Level of Safety for LSA

- Part 103

- Part 23

- 103 Training
-  Exemption

- -Consensus Standard
- -Statement of Compliance

- -Type Certificate
- -Production Certificate

- -No Design Standards
- -No Manufacturing
-  Standards

- Amateur Built

- Special
- Light-sport

- Kit-Built
- Light-Sport

- “Existing”
- Light-sport

**Level of Certitude**

## LSA Program Accomplishments

**The first ****SLSA**** airworthiness certificates were issued in April, 2005**** **
**Since then – over 75 different manufacturers have produced “ready-to-fly” airplanes, powered parachutes (PPC), and Weight-Shift Control (WSC - i.e., “trikes”) that have been registered as ****SLSA****. **
**Over 1100 such aircraft have now received ****SLSA**** airworthiness certificates**

## LSA Operational Safety

**Indications from Office of Accident Investigation:**
- LSA safety is continually improving
- Accident rate extremely low
**Assessment of the accident data would indicate, at this time, the LSA consensus standards and program boundaries**** are working well**** **
**The safety record is being monitored very closely to be looking for trends that might indicate areas needing improvement**

## The Light Sport Rule - Purpose

**Provide for the manufacture of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) that are safe for their intended use through:**
**Consensus Standards**
**Continued Airworthiness**
**Safety Directives**** **

## Supporting FAA Regulations

**14 CFR Part 21, ****§21.190(c)**
**Requirement for manufacturers to list the applicable consensus standards, provide a statement of compliance with the standards, and provide a statement of conformity of the aircraft to the design data, using the manufacturer’s quality assurance system that meets the standards**** **

## Definition of a Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA)

**LSA means an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:**
**Max takeoff weight (MTOW) of not more than:**
**1320 pounds (600 kilograms) for all land aircraft**
**1430 pounds (650 kilograms) for aircraft intended for operation on water**
**Max speed (Vh) –120 knots (138 mph); Glider Vne –120 knots**
** **
**Max stall speed – not more than 45 knots (52 mph) **
**2 seats max; non-pressurized; single reciprocating engine**
**Fixed or ground adjustable propeller; auto-feather for glider**
**Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider (retractable gear allowed) **

## How are LSA certificated?

- The FAA** **_**does not**_** **issue Type Certificates (TC) or Production Certificates (PC) for LSA
- Each aircraft is certificated individually
- There are two classes of LSA airworthiness certificates, Special** (****SLSA****) **and Experimental** (****ELSA****)**
** **
**SLSA**: **aircraft manufactured to consensus standards and delivered in a “ready-to-fly” condition**
**ELSA**: **aircraft assembled from a manufacturer’s “kit” that meets a consensus standard; or an SLSA aircraft converted to ELSA**
**These aircraft are not eligible for compensation or hire**
**No longer need to meet manufacturer’s/standard’s requirements**

## Consensus Standards Process

**ASTM International was selected as the standards development organization, and the FAA has been working within their process for the development, approval, and revision of the standards**
**The FAA **_**accepts**_**, not approves the standards (Ref. OMB Circular A-119, Rev. Feb. 10, 1998)**
**The FAA does not require a specific number of standards**
**The FAA does not have veto authority of the standards content or requirements**

## Consensus Standards Topics

**The LSA Rule called for consensus standards in nine different subject areas **
**Design and performance**
**Required equipment**
**Quality assurance**
**Production acceptance tests**
**Aircraft operating instructions**
**Maintenance and inspection procedures**
**Identification and recording of major repairs and alterations**
**Continued airworthiness **
**Kit assembly instructions**

## Flight Standards Overview

**The ****“Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft” rules**** address the certification of – **
**Sport pilot and flight instructor with a sport rating**
**Repairmen**
**Inspection and maintenance of the new experimental and special light-sport aircraft**

## What are the Public Benefits?

**Impacts a large population – Airmen and Aircraft**
** **
- Operate an FAA registered and certificated aircraft
- Aircraft inspected and maintained by certificated airman
- Purchase “Ready to Fly Aircraft”
- Comp or hire:
- Flight Training/Rental
- Hold an FAA Pilot Certificate
- Carry a passenger
- Flight instruct
**Provides for better access to: Insurance, financing,**
**airports, and increased acceptance by general**
**aviation community**

## What are the Classes of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA)?

**The definition limits LSA to small, simple‐to‐operate, & low‐performance aircraft.**
**May include several aircraft types –**
**Fixed-wing**
**Gliders**
**Powered parachutes**
**Lighter-than-air**
**Weight-shift-control (trikes)**
**Gyroplanes**

## Part 103 Ultralights
 (powered/unpowered)
Hanglider
Paraglider

_**[ ](http://www.avonhgpg.co.uk/image.asp?menu=8&ID=23)**_

- Part 103 Ultralights
-  (powered/unpowered)
- Hanglider
- Paraglider
** **_**[  ](http://www.eaa.org/ultralights/images/img0056_hi.jpg)**_

- Multiengine aircraft
- Powered lift
- Helicopters
- Complex aircraft
- Retractable gear
- Controllable pitch propeller

## What are the Previously Certificated Aircraft?

**Standard Category**
- Piper, Aeronca, Luscombe, Taylorcraft, Ercoupe, etc.
**Experimental Amateur-Built**
- Kit Fox, Rans, Air Creation
**Other (Primary Category)**
**FAA will post list on AFS-610 website**

## Aircraft Operated by Sport Pilots

**Aircraft Operated by Sport Pilots**

**Newly Manufactured**
**“****Ready-to-Fly”**

**Newly Manufactured**
**“****Kit-Built”**

**Standard Category**

**Amateur Built**

**Transitioned**
** “****Ultralight Like”**
** ****Aircraft **

## What Are the Part 91 Requirements? 

**Recreational and Sport Pilots**
- Operations in Class B Airspace
**Student Pilots (seeking sport pilot)**
- Operations in Class B, C, and D
**PPC**
- Traffic Pattern Right of Way
**PPC, Gyro**
- VFR – Night

## What are the Medical Certificate Requirements for Sport Pilot?

**Operations Requiring A Medical Or U.S. Driver’s License - Other Than Balloon or Glider**
**Student Pilot Seeking Sport Pilot Privileges**
**A Pilot Exercising the Privileges of a Sport Pilot Certificate **
**A Flight Instructor Acting As PIC of a Light-sport Aircraft **

**FAR 61.23**

## A Person Using a Current and Valid U.S. Driver’s License Must....

Comply With Each Restriction and Limitation Imposed on Your Drivers License 

Comply With Any Judicial or Administrative Order Applying To The Operation of a Motor Vehicle 

**Comply With Each Restriction and Limitation Imposed on Your Drivers License **
**Comply With Any Judicial or Administrative Order Applying To The Operation of a Motor Vehicle **

**FAR 61.23**

## Certification of Repairmen

## Light - Sport Repairmen

**There is only one Repairman (Light-sport aircraft) Certificate.**
**Eligible for two ratings:**
**Inspection**
**Maintenance**

## What’s next for the LSA Certification Program?

**Manufacturer “LSA audits” by the FAA**
**Monitor operational safety of the growing fleet**
**Determine appropriate compliance/enforcement policy**
**Review training programs: **
**FAA/Designees/Industry - worldwide**