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Highlights
of the Final Rule
LIGHT
SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA)
updated 8/18/04
Ø
The maximum gross weight is 1,320 pounds. Aircraft operated on
water can weigh 1,430 pounds.
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The stall speed not greater than 45 knots (51.8 MPH),
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Max speed in a cruise configuration (Vh): 120 knots (138 MPH).
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LSA can have a fixed or ground adjustable propeller.
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Seaplanes or gliders can have repositionable gear (move one time
in-flight).
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A LSA can have only one engine (reciprocating, rotary, diesel)
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Hang gliders, powered and unpowered paragliders are specifically excluded
from being LSA, and a Sport Pilot certificate does not allow a
sport pilot to fly a tandem hang glider or tandem paraglider.
Ø
SLSA - New aircraft can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly
under the new Special Light-Sport Aircraft (SLSA) certification without FAR
Part 23 compliance. Aircraft must meet ASTM consensus standards. Aircraft
under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, and for
compensation to conduct towing, flight training, and aircraft rental.
Ø
Kit Built ELSA - Newly manufactured aircraft can be FAA
certificated as an Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (ELSA) if kit- or
plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and
recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
Ø
ELSA - Transitioning aircraft can be FAA certificated as an
Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (ELSA) if it was kit- or plans-built and
operated as an ultralight trainer. Certification must be completed on or
before
August 31, 2007
.
Ø
Will have FAA registration-"N" number.
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Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea),
Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control (Trike Land/Sea), and
Powered Parachute.
Ø
U.S.
or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
Ø
Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet
above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, that airworthiness
certification category will not be changed to a light-sport aircraft. Holders
of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness
certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
SPORT PILOTS
Ø
A sport pilot must be at least 17 years old and 16 to solo for
powered aircraft.
Ø
Summary
of the minimum required flight experience to be a sport pilot:
o Airplane:
20 hours total, 75 mile solo cross country
o Glider:
10 hours total
o Gyroplane:
20 hours total, 50 mile solo cross country
o Powered
parachute: 12
hours total, 10 mile solo cross country
o Weight
shift (trike):
20 hours total, 50 miles solo cross country
Ø
Additional instruction and an instructor's logbook endorsement
for each new make and model or
"set".
Ø
A sport pilot must have additional training and a one-time
logbook endorsement to fly a LSA that has a max speed in a cruise
configuration (Vh) greater than 87 knots (100 MPH).
Ø
Powered parachutes and weight-shift control are divided into
"land" and "sea" classes.
Ø
Pilots will be allowed to take a practical test (flight test) in
a single seat LSA. The examiner will observe the pilot from the ground.
The pilot will have a "single-seat" limitation on his certificate.
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Sport pilot must take a biennial flight review (BFR).
Ø
Drivers License or third class medical, except if FAA has
denied, revoked, suspended. If you hold a valid special medical your medical
has not been denied.
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A sport pilot may not fly above 10,000 feet MSL.
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No night flying.
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May not demonstrate LSA for sale if a "salesman."
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A sport pilot may fly in airspace where radio communication
with ATC is required, but only with additional training and a logbook
endorsement.
LSA MAINTENANCE
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"Preventative maintenance" is allowed by owner on
a special LSA.
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“Owner maintenance” is allowed on experimental LSA.
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16-hour maintenance course allows owner to do annual inspections
on their experimental LSA.
Ø
If you want to do maintenance-for-hire on the special
light-sport aircraft, you must attend a maintenance course (class
specific) of 80 hours for gliders and lighter-than-air aircraft, 120 hours for
airplanes and 104 hours for weight-shift (trikes) and powered parachutes.
Ø
An applicant for an LSA repairman certificate can add the
applicable modules for each additional class of LSA
Ø
Maintenance on SLSA must be performed in accordance with the
general aviation standards of FAR Part 43, with some exceptions.
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Approval by the manufacturer for SLSA modification, not FAA STC.
Ø
Prospective Designated Airworthiness Representatives for LSA (LS
DARs) who inspect and issue experimental and special LSA airworthiness certificates
must attend a three-day FAA course.
LSA EQUIPMENT
Ø
ELT required for two-seat airplanes (fixed wing) ELSA, SLSA and
Amateur Built. (Does not apply for
training flights less than 50 nautical miles from their origin.)
Ø
Only LSA certified with engine driven electrical systems will be
required to have a transponder to fly within Class B and Class C airspace, and
the Class B "Mode C veil."
ULTRALIGHT TRAINING
Ø
The
two-seat ultralight Exemption for ultralight training will expire on
January 31, 2008
.
Ø
All single and two -seat ultralights that exceed the definition
in part 103 and all two-seat ultralight trainers must be converted to “experimental"
LSA by January 31, 20078
.
Ø
After an ultralight trainer is converted to an experimental LSA,
a Sport Pilot Instructor may use the converted experimental LSA as a
Sport Pilot trainer (for compensation) until
Ø
January 31, 2010
. Thereafter, for personal use
only (no compensation).
Ø
An ultralight pilot must register with an FAA recognized
ultralight organization or a sport pilot CFI to have his ultralight flight
time count toward his sport pilot certificate. To take advantage of the
opportunity to receive full credit, the ultralight pilot must then take the
Sport Pilot practical test by
January 31, 2007
.
Ø
Sport Pilots may train ultralight pilots, but not for hire. Only
flight training received from an SP CFI or a BFI will be creditable towards a
sport pilot certificate.
PRIVATE PILOT (weight shift or powered parachute):
Ø
Powered parachute: 25 hours total, including 3 hours of night
flight, and a 25 mile solo cross country
Ø
Weight-shift: 40 hours total, including 3 hours of night
flying with a 75 mile night cross country, and a 100 mile solo
cross country
Ø
Night flight requirements may be avoided with “Night
Limitation”. (night not required for Sport Pilot)
Ø
May demonstrate LSA for sale if a "salesman."
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Allowed to tow gliders with qualification.
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May fly above 10,000 feet MSL
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Authorized flight in Class A, B, C, and D airspace with properly
equipped aircraft.
SPORT PILOT CFI
Ø
18 years of age
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Knowledge exams on aeronautics and fundamental of instruction
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Practical test
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Must hold a sport pilot certificate or higher rating.
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A sport pilot CFI may teach private pilot weight-shift or
private pilot powered parachute if the sport pilot CFI has at
least a private pilot certificate with the appropriate rating.
Ø
Required
flight time:
o Airplane:
150 hours total time, 25 hours of cross country
o Glider:
25 hours flight time
o Gyroplane:
125 hours flight time (at least 50 hours in a
gyroplane) and 10 hours cross country
o Weight-shift:
150 hours total (50 in weight-shift,) 25 hours cross country
o Powered
parachute: 100 hours total (50 in a powered parachute,) 15 hours cross country
Ø
5 hours in the same make and model "set"
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The sport pilot instructor must renew his flight instructor's
certificate every two years.
Ø
An ultralight instructor must transition to sport pilot CFI by
January 31, 2008
if he wants credit for his ultralight flight time
Ø
Prospective Sport Pilot Examiners must attend a 5-day FAA
course.
Deadlines to remember:
Ø
September 1, 2004
Effective date of the Sport
Pilot rule.
Deadline
to be a registered ultralight pilot or ultralight instructor in order to get
maximum credit toward sport pilot certificate or sport pilot CFI.
Ø
August 31, 2005
Deadline
for recreational pilots and higher rated pilots who have been operating an
experimental aircraft with out a category or class rating to have documented
the necessary flight time and received an endorsement to apply for
a category and class rating limited to that specific make and model of
experimental aircraft.
Ø
January 31, 2007
Deadline
for an ultralight pilot to take his sport pilot practical test if he wants to
receive full credit for his ultralight flight time.
Ø
January
31, 2008
Last
day that an experimental light-sport airworthiness certificate will be issued
to a "fat" ultralight or two-seat trainer.
Ø
January 31, 2008
Deadline
for an ultralight flight instructor to take his sport pilot CFI practical test
if he wants to receive full credit for his ultralight flight time,
and FOI.
Ø
January 31, 2008
Ultralight
two-seat training exemption expires. New
BFIs allowed until then, but of ever decreasing value.
Ø
January 31, 2010
Last
day to be able to use a two-place training vehicle converted to an
experimental LSA as a sport pilot trainer for compensation.
