UNITED STATES proposed LSA changes

[Blackhawk]

FAA Proposes Rule to Enhance Safety and Performance of Light Sport Aircraft

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is planning to enhance the safety and performance of Light Sport Aircraft operations. The proposed Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule would put performance safety standards around larger aircraft that innovators are building by expanding the definition of Light Sport Aircraft.

"This rule will encourage manufactures to make Light Sport Aircraft operations safer, more versatile and accessible while maintaining rigorous safety standards," said Acting FAA Associate Administrator for Safety David Boulter.  

Under the proposal, the aircraft’s weight limit is based on its stall speed. By permitting higher stall speeds, the proposal would bring within the Light Sport Aircraft regulatory framework aircraft weighing as much as 3,000 pounds. This more than doubles the weight of aircraft under the current definition of Light Sport of 1,320 pounds, allowing larger and stronger aircraft to qualify as Light Sport.

The proposal would also expand the type of aircraft sport pilots can operate and allows them to use their aircraft for a wider range of operations such as some aerial work. Although sport pilots could operate aircraft designed with up to four seats, they would remain limited to operating with only one passenger.

The public has 90 days to comment on the proposed rule once it is published in the Federal Register. The FAA will publish a final rule and respond to comments after the comment period closes.

[facthunter]

The current LSA rules were only a stop Gap causing a lot of complexity to maintaining them for owners. This proposal looks like a grand step into GA territory. Nev

[red750]

FAA proposed rule change.

 

 

318 page pdf.

[Garfly]

 

 

 

[Carbon Canary]

Is this what the future looks like ?

 

Texas Aircraft jumps the MOSAIC Gun with Stallion - Australian Flying

[facthunter]

Cheap affordable flying?  Nev

[onetrack]

I'd have to guess you won't get any change out of $350,000 for a new Texas Stallion - giving "cheap affordable flying", a whole new level of meaning.

 

And what's with the idiocy of building/buying/operating a 4 seat aircraft that is limited to only carrying  one passenger? Sports pilots obviously can't be trained to carry more weight?

 

Edited August 4, 2023 by onetrack

[Carbon Canary]

An EAA interview on YouTube described the regulatory ‘risk continuum’ mindset of the FAA.  That is, high up on the regulatory curve are airliners that carry hundreds of people and therefore need to be heavily regulated. At the lower end of the curve is LSA and below that are micro lights. Although the perceived risk is much higher in these aircraft, they are lightly regulated……..presumably because you can kill less people. Maybe that’s why the limitation to 1 pax ??

 

A Texas Stallion could potentially be a poor man’s C172 albeit with only one pax to keep you company.  It’s fairly rare that all 4 seats in a C172 can be and are occupied. I haven’t looked, but guess a new C172 would be ~AUD700k now.

 

Anyhow, the Brazilians have chosen to jump out of the blocks early - the next decade could get interesting in the expanded LSA sector.

[spenaroo]

1 hour ago, onetrack said:

I'd have to guess you won't get any change out of $350,000 for a new Texas Stallion - giving "cheap affordable flying", a whole new level of meaning.

 

And what's with the idiocy of building/buying/operating a 4 seat aircraft that is limited to only carrying  one passenger? Sports pilots obviously can't be trained to carry more weight?

 

same reason why people build dual cab utes....
sure the back seat is mostly redundant. but people like the idea of more room

[facthunter]

Usually comes with a SMALLER tray. (Fastest Plumber in the West. ) 400 + Hp and all. Still do 10 litres /100 Kms.  Nev