In the almost two years since the European Aviation Safety Agency finalised CS-LSA, its light sport aircraft (LSA) rule, three aircraft have been qualified through the system. Contrast that with the 48 new aircraft qualified in the first two years of the US Federal Aviation Administration's light sport rule.

Cessna Skycatcher

 Cessna  

Why has Cessna circumvented EASA's rule and certificated its LSA offering - C162 Skycatcher - in the FAA's primary category?

Accounting for world economics, there is a huge difference between regimes - 60% of the 2,359 FAA-registered LSA's are produced in Europe by 52 European manufacturers. What accounts for this difference, and why has Cessna, the world's largest general aviation producer, decided to circumvent EASA's rule and certificate its LSA offering - C162 Skycatcher - in the FAA's primary category?

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Source: Flight International