The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalised a rule significantly expanding its definition of light-sport aircraft (LSA), opening the category to far more designs and possibly making aviation more accessible to beginner pilots.
“This new rule will promote better designs, safer materials and upgraded technology in the recreational aviation sector,” says US Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary Sean Duffy. “Our recreational pilots and plane manufacturers have correctly noted outdated regulations were inhibiting innovation and safety.”
The rule “makes sweeping changes to the light-sport aircraft category and to sport-pilot privileges”, enabling such pilots to fly a broader range of aircraft, the DOT adds.
Created in 2004, the light-sport category was designed to encourage development of, and regulation over, a segment the FAA said was neglected or missed by other regulations.
The agency also created a “sport pilot” certificate with less demanding requirements than for other pilot licences.
The original rule, among other provisions, limited light-sport aircraft to those with single reciprocating engines, fixed landing gears and no more than two seats. It required the aircraft be capable of flying no faster than 120kt (222km/h), with a maximum take-off weight of 1,320lb (598kg), or 1,430lb for seaplanes.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) advocated for the rule change and says the prior definition limited light-sport aircraft to “postwar trainers like Cubs, Champs and Taylorcrafts”, and some Cessna and Piper types.
Such aircraft might have been great as “Sunday flyers” but “were not capable and robust enough to serve in training and rental fleets and were less-than-ideal modern touring aircraft”, the EAA says.
The new rule, which has been several years in the making, removes the weight, propulsion and landing-gear requirements for light-sport aircraft. They can now fly at 250kt, and fixed-wing types can now accommodate four passengers, up from two.
Additionally, the change allows light-sport aircraft to be used for work including infrastructure inspections, filming and agricultural surveillance, the DOT says.
The certificate changes take effect in one year, while changes applicable to sport pilots and to light-sport mechanics take effect in 90 days.
“Ninety days from now, about three-quarters of the general aviation fleet will be accessible to sport pilots and those exercising sport pilot privileges. One year from now, new and modern aircraft will begin entering the fleet with minimal certification costs,” says the EAA.
