# Presentation: 134225

## Light Sport AircraftCertification by Consensus30th FAA Aviation Forecast Conference

## Slide 2

## Light Sport Aircraft - Defined

- Maximum gross weight-1,320 lbs, 1,430 lbs for seaplanes.
- Maximum stall speed-51 mph (45 knots)
- Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)-138 mph (120 knots)
- Two-place maximum (pilot and one passenger)
- Single, non-turbine engine, fixed propeller
- Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider

##  What Do These Things Look Like?

- Airplane (Land/Sea)
- Gyroplane
- Airship
- Balloon
- Weight-Shift-Control (Trike Land/Sea)
- Powered Parachute

- www.sportpilot.com

**Notes:**
So why should those in the aviation community, in both private sector and government, have any interest in these changes taking place in the “recreational” aviation community?  
Some will see this as simply a “coming of age” for the ultralight community as more sophisticated aircraft have developed from this movement.  
Others will see it as a “renaissance” in pilot certification and aircraft ownership that reflects the heights of aviation in the 1930s and 1940s, when simpler pilot training, proficiency, and maintenance requirements matched the simplicity of flying sought (and the simplicity of many forms of recreational flying today). 
Still others will see it as a new growth area of “airborne sports opportunities” that will be as accessible as other leisure activities in a new economy and society. 

## Certification Categories

- Experimental Light-Sport
- Existing two-place ultralight trainers
- Future production kit-built aircraft
- Non-commercial/recreational use only
- Special Light-Sport
- Factory ready – fully manufactured
- May be used for instruction and rental

## Transition of Existing Ultralight Trainers

- Inspected by Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR)
- Remedial action taken as necessary
- Airworthiness certificate issued by FAA
- Experimental Light-Sport Category
- N-Number registration and placards
- Must then be flown only by certificated pilots
- Approximately 10,000 aircraft

## Future Production Kit Aircraft

- Experimental Light-Sport Category
- Sold as kits to any level of completion
- Meet consensus standards
- Includes standards for assembly instructions
- Not believed to be the major growth area for the future LSA fleet at this time
- Many kit manufacturers products to remain as experimental amateur-built

## Fully Manufactured Aircraft

- Special Light-Sport Category
- Factory completed aircraft
- Dealers can complete if part of QA process
- Meet all applicable consensus standards
- Can be used for rental or instruction
- Most industry interest shown in Special-LSA
- 100 to 200 fixed wing aircraft per month in 2005
- Estimated to rise to 400 per month by 2007
- Does not include trikes or powered parachutes

## How do we Certify These Purely Recreational Aircraft?

- Part 103 – Ultralights
- Insufficient standardization to allow industry to grow and prosper beyond historic levels
- No design and performance standard
- No production standard
- No quality assurance standard
- No maintenance or inspection standard

## How do we Certify These Purely Recreational Aircraft?

- Part 23 – Airworthiness Standards
- Part 21 – Certification and Production
- Proven to be too expensive and cumbersome for very light, inexpensive recreational aircraft
- Market is more like that of recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and boats, than traditional general aviation aircraft

## We Needed to Strike a Balance Between No Standard at All and Full Blown Federal Regulation

- All Departments of the US government have been instructed to, whenever possible, delegate standard development to industry consensus standards setting organizations.

## How Are the Standards Used for Aircraft Certification?

- No Type Certificate or Production Certificate is issued
- Manufacturer certifies to FAA that their product complies with applicable standards
- Manufacturer certifies that the quality assurance and continued airworthiness programs meet the standards and are in place

## Many Approaches Contemplated

- EAA has long-established relationships with engineering and standardization organizations
- Due to need for full participation by industry, consumers, and government (not just engineers), several organizations were ruled out due to their internal procedures

## ASTM Deemed to be Best Suited for Arriving at Consensus Through Broad Participation

- EAA had long experience with ASTM through participation in aviation fuel and lubricants committees
- Development of EAA’s auto gas STC program and high octane unleaded fuel research
- Approached ASTM seeking support for Light Sport Aircraft standards in mid-2001

## Who or What is ASTM?

- ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services.

## ASTM: What Do They Do

- All stakeholders involved
- Neutral forum
- Consensus-based procedures
- Private and public sector   cooperation

- EXAMPLE
* *Aircraft manufacturer
-  Federal agencies
-  Pilot associations
-  Professional societies
-  Maintenance professionals
-  Trade associations
-  Financial organizations
-  Academia
-  Insurance industry

##     130 Technical Committees

-     130 Technical Committees

***Ten examples:***
- A1 on Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys
- D2 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants
- E50 on Environmental Assessment
- F8 on Sports Equipment and Facilities
- F15 on Consumer Products
- F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices
- F25 on Ships and Marine Technology
- F37 Light Sport Aircraft
- F38 Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems
- F39 Normal and Utility Category Airplane Electrical Wiring Systems

## Standards and Related Information 				-Why Develop Them?

- Standards and Related Information 				-Why Develop Them?

- _Aid_ in design, manufacturing, performance, operation and maintenance
- _Advance_ safety, health, quality
- _Increase_ public interest, product certainty, and information availability
- _Transfer_ technology to the marketplace via standards, handbooks, manuals, and training
- _Passports_ to the global market

## ASTM Committees Impacting Aircraft Design and Manufacture

- Committee F37 Light Sport Aircraft
- _[F37.10](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3710.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107922475)_ Glider_[F37.20](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3720.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107922475)_ Airplane_[F37.30](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3730.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107922475)_ Power Parachute_[F37.40](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3740.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107922475)_ Weight ShiftF37.50 GyroplaneF37.60 Lighter than AirF37.70 Cross CuttingF37.70.02 LSA Audit Task GroupF37.70.10 Hang Glider and Paraglider Tandem Operations Task Group
- Committee F38 Unmanned Aircraft
- F38.01 AirworthinessF38.02 Flight OperationsF38.03 Operator Qualifications
- Committee F39 Airplane Electrical Wiring
- _[F39.01](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3901.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107921259)_ Design, Alteration, and Certification_[F39.02](http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F3902.htm?L+mystore+lsls2171+1107921259)_ Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair

## Standards Required by LSA Regulation

- Design and Performance
- Required Equipment
- Quality Assurance
- Production Acceptance Tests
- Aircraft Operating Instructions
- Maintenance and Inspection Procedures
- Continued Airworthiness
- Manufacturer’s Assembly Instructions
- Experimental Light-Sport Kits Only

## F37 Light Sport Aircraft

- Committee and subcommittees have been working for over two years – Chaired by EAA
- Q4 2004 – All standards completed for the design and manufacture of airplanes and powered parachutes
- Excluding maintenance and repairman standards
- FAA has formally accepted the new standards
- Published in Federal Register March 3, 2005

## Other Completed Standards

- Airframe Emergency Parachutes
- Engine Design and Manufacture
- Gyroplane - design, operating, and airworthiness
- Gyroplanes are not eligible for Special LSA airworthiness certificates under existing regulations
- Lighter Than Air – manufacture, quality, and airworthiness

## Standards To Be Completed

- Before Special and Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft can be sold, several standards have yet to be completed and fully balloted.
- Maintenance and Inspection Procedures
- Identification and Recording of Major Repairs and Major Alterations
- Complete in Q2 or Q3 2005
- FAA policy regarding training and certification of repairmen requires additional work

## For Your Reference:Airplane Standards

- Design, Performance, Required Equipment, Operating Instructions
- ASTM F2245-04
- Quality Assurance, Production Acceptance Testing
- ASTM F2279-03
- Continued Airworthiness
- ASTM F2295-03

## For Your Reference:Powered Parachute Standards

- Design and Performance
- ASTM F2244-03
- Required Equipment, Operating Instructions
- ASTM F2243-03
- Quality Assurance
- ASTM F2240-03
-  Production Acceptance Testing
- ASTM F2242-03
- Continued Airworthiness
- ASTM F2241-03

## For Your Reference:Gyroplane Standards

- Design and Performance, Required Equipment, Operating Instructions
- ASTM F2352-04
- Continued Airworthiness
- ASTM F2415-04

## For Your Reference:Lighter Than Air Standards

- Quality Assurance and Production Acceptance Tests
- ASTM F2353-04
- Continued Airworthiness
- ASTM F2354-04

## For Your Reference:Optional Standards

- Airframe Emergency Parachutes
- ASTM F2316-03
- Engine Design & Manufacture
- ASTM F2339-04

## Where Can I Obtain Copies of the LSA Standards?

- ASTM International
- 100 Barr Harbor Drive
- P.O. Box C700
- West Conshohocken, PA  19428-2959
- (610) 832-9585
- WWW.ASTM.ORG

## Outcome

- FAA and industry have been favorably impressed
- Ability of process to draw disparate and competing interests toward consensus
- Quality of ASTM support for the process
- Quality of the standards themselves
- Standards are living documents
- Must be reviewed at least every two years
- Updates likely more frequent – contrasts dramatically with regulatory solutions

## LSA – Paving the Way for Others

- Process has already been expanded to other aeronautical projects where consensus documents can be more complete and timely than regulation
- F38 – Unmanned Aircraft
- F39 – Aircraft Electrical Wiring
- Large number stakeholders
- Disparate industry and government segments
- Competing interests
- A model for the future!!

## Light Sport AircraftCertification by ConsensusA Model for the Future