a([HFXWLYHSummary 

Strategic Plan 

Light-Sport Aircraft 

The hitentofthis document is to communicate the aircraft certification strategy for continued 

support of the special category light-sport aircraft (SLSA) segment of aviation and the continued 

safe integration ofSLSA into Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations. The document 

provides a direct line-of-sight from our SLSA goals and objectives to the Aviation Safety (AVS) 

and FAA vision, mission, and goals, and outlines tactical methods for achieving these goals with 

safety as a first priority. The plan currently focuses on aircraft certification issues and Continued 

Operational Safety (COS), butwill be expanded to encompass training and maintenance and will 

be coordinated with the Flight Standards Service (AFS). 

Mission and Vision Traceability 

It is important for the strategic vision for the SLSA industry to be aligned ·with the Mission and 

Vision of the FAA, with a primary focus on aviation safety. The following sections contain 

information to tie the SLSA strategic vision to the top-level goals identified in FAA's strategic 

vision- Destination The diagram on the following page shows how the SLSA vision is 

driven by the FAA Mission, Vision, and Values. 

Earl Lawrence, 

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FAA Mission 

Our continuing mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the 

world. 

FAA Vision 

We strive to reach the next level of safety, efficiency, environmental responsibility and 

global leadership. We are accountable to the American public and our stakeholders. 

FAA Values . Safety is our passion . We work so all air and space travelers arrive safely at their 

destinations. 

Excellence is our promise. We seek results that embody professionalism; 

transparency (lnd accountability. 

Integrity is outtouchstone. W¢ perform our duties honestly, with moral soundness, 

and with the highest .level of ethics. . People are our strength. Our success depends on the respect, diversity, collaboration, 

and commitment of our workforce. 

Innovation is our signature. We foster creativity and vision to provide solutions beyond 

today's boundaries. 

FAA Strategic Goals 

The follo'Ning strategic goals are communicated in the FAA Destination 2025 planning 

document, and outline the FAA's top level goals, which the SLSA industry must be 

consistent with. 

Move to the Next Level of Safety 

Workplace of the Future 

DeliverAviation Access Through. Innovation 

··Sustain Our Future. 

Advance Global Collaboration (See Section of this planning document} 

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SlSAVision 

Focusing on industry accountability and safety through appropriate regulations and 

policy, enable a successful, LQGXVWU\aled, self·declarative compliance and audit system to 

the applicable UHaXODWLRQVand industry-developed and maintained consensus standards 

for SLSA to yield a fatal accidentrate equivalent to or-better than existing "personal" 

aviation without FAA type design certification or direct FAA production oversight 

Figure l - SLSA Vision Traceability 
2.1 Summary ofF AA Strategic Goals 

2.1.1 Move to the Next Level of Safety: Safety is the FAA's top priority. We will transform the 

·way we assure safety by Jbstering a positive safety culture to enhance our standards and 

oversight. We "'iJl take action to eliminate, mitigate, and manage risk by identH)'ing and 

predicting risks based on continuous analysis of data. 

Our Workplace of the Future: We can only create the future we envision through the 

people of the FAA. Our continued success depends on creating a workplace of choice \vith 

integrity, fairness, diversity, and innovation as our professional halhnarks. We will train and 

enable our high performance workforce \vith the skills and abilities required to reach and sustain 

the NextGen levels of safety and efficiency. 

2.1 Deliver Aviation Access through Innovation: We must serve the needs of the traveling 

public and the aviation industry to provide unencumbered access to the aviation system, whether 

the destination is domestic or intemational. We will optimize aviation's value to the public by 

improving travel throughout the NAS, and beyond. This includes reducing costs and energy use, 

minimizing delays, preserving needed infrastructure, and increasing capacity to maximize the 

economic effectiveness of aviation. 

2.1.4 Sustain Our Future: We will grov , aviation in an environmentally and energy responsible 

manner. We will minimize noise and emission impacts on communities, reduce aviation's 

carbon footprint, invest in new technology, promote sustainable alternative fuels research, and 

support other innovations and sustainable approaches. 

2.1.5 Advance Global Collaboration: \Ve will work with the International Civil Aviation 

Organization (lCAO) and other international partners to improve global aviation safety and 

environmental performance around the world. We will harness NextGen to enhance seamless 

and efficient air navigation through interoperable standards, procedures, technologies, and global 

harmonization of certification and regulation. 

2.2 Explaining the Targeted SLSA Vision for the Future 

We are focused on industry accountability and safety \Vith a goal of creating a Light Sport 

Aircraft (LSA) system with an equivalent or lower fatal accident rate than other segments of 

personal aviation \<Vithout requiring FAA type design cetiification or FAA production oversight. 

2.2.1 Creating a regulatory and policy structure for industry to achieve FAA safety goals through 

VHOIaGHFODUHGcompliance with industry developed and maintained consensus standards, 

2.2.2 Relying on an industry-led system of self-audits and statements of compliance, 

2.2.3 Creating a system f()r FAA oversight of a manufacture's self-auditing and self-declarative 

systems, and 

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2.2.4 Committing FAA resources to actively participate in the development and acceptance of 

industry consensus standards. 

SLSA Objectives 

The Small Airplane Directorate (ACE) and the Production and Ainvorthiness Division (AIR200) have identified the following objectives to accomplish our vision for SLSA. 

Objective Focus Ob.iective Description 

Safety Provide a safer yet comparatively afTordable alternative to ownership of 

experimental amateur-built aircraft or ultralight vehicles. (.S'upports F:4A 

DesNnation 2025 goal to "Move to rhe 1Vext Level ofSafi!ty ''and AIR 

goal to Reduce General Aviation Fatal Accidenls.) 

Industry Enable a successful industry-led self-declarative system of compliance to 

Accountability applicable regulations and industry consensus standards with efficient use l 

of FAA resources. (Supports FAA Destination 2025 goal to ''Create Our 

Workplace £?{the Future") j 

Industry Growth Create a clear path for companies starting in experimental aircraft to 

potentially transition into producing ELSA, SLSA,. Light Sport, primary 

category, and ultimately full part 23 designs and production certifkation, 

if so desired. {Supports FAA Destination goa/to "Deliver Aviation 

Access through Innovation'') 

International Provide and support a model of SLSA oversight that results in the 

Leadership and international acceptance of the model and specifically the use of one set 

Harmonization of international consensus standards for the design, manufacturing and 

quality, continued airworthiness, maintenance and operations, etc,, of 

aircraft intended for personal recreational flying and flight training. 

(.S'upports FAA Destination 2025 goal to "Advance Global 

Collaboration'') 

Innovation Enable and facilitate innovation in recreational aviation, including the 

development of safety enhancing, energy enlcient and environmentally 

responsible products. (Supports FAA Destination goals to "Deliver 

Aviation Access through lnnovalion" and ''Suslain Our Fwure '') 

Regulatory Future Provide an appropriate, competitive, and fair regulatory structure to allmv 

SLSA to maintain FAA safety goals, accommodate innovation, and 

continue international leadership and harmonization. (Supports FAA 

Destinatkm 2025 goals to "Deliver Aviation Access through Innova!ion" 

and "Move to the JVext Level ofSalety 

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3.1 Implementation Strategy for Each SLSA Objective 

For each SLSA objective listed above, an implementation strategy has been outlined below, and 

specific actions have been identif1ed. These actions have been harmonized with the SLSA 

manufacturer assessment report and the actions from that effort, wherever possible. 

Each strategic action is meant to assist the FA/\ in achieving our long term SLSA safety goals 

and industry accountability goals. Each requires cooperative action vvithin the FAA and with 

industry. 

3.1.1 Safety -Provide a safer yet comparatively affordable alternative to ownership of 

experimental amateur-built aircraft or ultralight vehicles. 

3.l.l.l Participate in government/industry consensus standards development through ASTM 

F37 Committee on Light-Sport Aircraft. 

3.1.1.2 Establish, imp[ement, and maintain regulations and policy for SLSA manufacturers 

and owners/operators. 

3.1.1.3 Establish and implement training for Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) and 

Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR) with light-spott functions. 

3 .1.1.4 Ensure manufacturer compliance with FAA regulations and ASTM consensus 

standards. 

3.1.1.5 Monitor and ensure industry addresses COS issues for SLSA. 

3.1.1.6 Maintain a list of active SLSA manuf1tcturers so ASis and DARs can use the data and 

contacts for COS. 

3.1.2 Industry Accountability Enable a successful industry-led self-declarative system of 

compliance to applicable regulations and industry consensus standards vvith efficient usc of FAA 

resources. 

3 .1.2.1 Identify needed services, current gaps, and future needs and provide suggestions to 

the ACMT regarding the most efficient organizational structure to provide oversight 

and management ofresources. (Tie to FAA reorganization etl<xt) 

3 .1.2.2 Implement the LSA strategic plan with documented expectation for FAA oversight of 

the LSA segment. 

3.1.2.3 Ensure industry creates a new manufacturer education program to clarify FAA and 

ASTM expectations and communicate minimum requirements for a manufacturer's 

entry into SLSA. 

3.1.2.4 Assist ASTM to develop compliance guides vvith dear industry expectations tor 

design, manufacturing, quality, continued airworthiness, maintenance, operations, 

etc. 

3.1.2.5 Implement a first mticle conformity program performed by FAA inspectors tor first 

time airworthiness approval of new SLSA models. 

3 .1.2.6 Apply the appropriate level ofF AA resources to implement a Safety Management 

System (SMS)-based manufacturing oversight program, w·ith increasing reliance on 

oversight by manufhcturer's VHOIaDXGLWLQJprograms (i.e., intemal and external 

audits), as appropriate. 

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3 .1.2. 7 Drive the level of .FAA oversight according to the industry's continued success 

to\vards meeting FAA expectations for the self-certification process to applicable 

regulatory and consensus standard requirements. 

3.1.2.8 Create a plan for determining success criteria and an exit strategy for transition from 

FAA audits of SLSA manufacturers to intcmal and industry-led third party audits. 

3.1.3 Industry Growth Create a clear path tbr companies starting in experimental aircraft to 

potentially transition into producing ELSA, SLSA, Light Sport, primary category, and ultimately 

full part 23 designs and production cettitication, if so desired. 

3.1.3.1 Document and provide infonnation and training to existing manufacturers utilizing 

the Federal Register, FAA resources, and/or ASTM regarding the expected level of 

safety, FAA oversight, and manufacturer responsibilities for the different types of 

GA aircraft; from experimental, to SLSA, to aircraft vvith FAA design and 

production approval. 

3 .1.3 .2 Work with new manufacturers to clarify their intended market and help them 

understand FAA expectations in documenting their design, conducting 

manufl\cturing efforls, and supporting continued airworthiness. 

3 .1.3 Consider connectivity between strategic SLSA objectives and other efforts to 

streamline general aviation aircraft certification and oversight. 

3 .1.3 .4 Describe the path and how we plan to make industry aware of the differences between 

each level of airworthiness, design, and production certification. 

3.1.4 International Leadership and Harmonization - Provide and support a model of SLSA 

oversight that results in the international acceptance of the model and specifically the use of one 

set of international consensus standards for the design, manufacturing and quality, continued 

airworthiness, maintenance and operations, etc., of aircraH intended for personal recreational 

flying and night training. 

3.1.4.1 Support international regulatory conferences and ASTM meetings. 

3.1.4.2 Conduct seminars on the details of the United States LSA industry tbr foreign 

authorities and mamdacturers at air shows, public forums, and upon request. 

3 .1.4.3 Consider and encourage harmonization of SLSA approval processes, given the 

differences between international design and operational regulatory constraints and 

highlight the flexibility of the ASTM standards. 

3 .1.4.4 Apply FAA risk management tools, such as the A VS SMS, to help detern1ine the 

level FAA of involvement and oversight 

3.1.5 Innovation a(QDEOHand facilitate innovation in recreational aviation, including the 

development of safety cnha11cing, energy efficient and environmentally responsible products. 

3.1.5.1 Support development of design standards Jhr emerging SLSA concepts, like electric 

aircraft and roadable SLSA. 

3.1.5.2 Consider rulemaking to acknowledge the unique needs of emerging SLSA designs, 

such as electric powered or roadable SLSA. 

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3.1.5.3 Develop policy to suppmt emerging vehicle technologies, addressing the relationship 

between ASTM standards and other transportation authority requirements that may 

be applicable to these concepts. 

3 .1.5.4 Explain processes to industry that may allov,.' companies to introduce new and 

innovative technology or new designs in LSA, and how they may eventually pursue 

FAA design certification, if desired. 

3.1.6 Regulatory Future- Provide an appropriate, competitive, and fair regulatory structure to 

allow SLSA to maintain Fiv'\ safety goals, accommodate innovation, and continue international 

leadership and harmonization. 

3.1.6.1 Actively plan for the future of the SLSA segment to determine what boundaries we 

need to maintain regarding the type of aircraft that will be included as future SLSA, 

including roadable, gyroplane, electric, etc. 

3.1 .6.2 Review current OLJKWaVSRUWaircraft rules and identify any needed changes and/or 

additional rule making to allO\\e' SLSA to maintain FAA safety goals. 

3.1.6.3 Continue to identify appropriate changes to regulations, policy, and consensus 

standards to allow continuous improvement of the industry-led light-sport program.