Aircraft and Pilot Overview

1
Light Sport Aviation

• Aircraft and Pilot Overview

2
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.

3
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.

4
Expected Level of Safety for LSA
Level of Certitude
Part 23
-Type Certificate -Production Certificate
-Consensus Standard -Statement of Compliance
Special Light-sport
Kit-Built Light-Sport
-No Design Standards -No Manufacturing Standards
Existing Light-sport
Amateur Built
Part 103
103 Training Exemption
5
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

6
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

7
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

8
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 manufacturers
  quality assurance system that meets the standards

9
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)

10
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 manufacturers
  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 manufacturers/standards
  requirements

11
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

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
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

16
What is Not a Light-Sport Aircraft?

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

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

17
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

18
Aircraft Operated by Sport Pilots
Transitioned Ultralight Like Aircraft
Newly Manufactured Kit-Built
Standard Category
Newly Manufactured Ready-to-Fly
Amateur Built
19
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

20
What are the Medical Certificate Requirements for
Sport Pilot?

• Operations Requiring A Medical Or U.S. Drivers
  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
21

• A Person Using a Current and Valid U.S. Drivers
  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

FAR 61.23
22
Certification of Repairmen
23
Light - Sport Repairmen

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

24
Whats 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