Officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association report they have participated in meetings of the ASTM International Committee F37 on Light-Sport Aircraft focused on the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC) rulemaking initiative.
The committee is tasked with updating industry consensus standards for light-sport aircraft to prepare for anticipated changes to the regulations by the FAA.
These changes will expand sport pilot privileges, as well as the range of aircraft sport pilots can fly.
Perhaps most importantly, the changes will constitute a shift to a performance-based metric describing sport pilot-eligible aircraft (LSA) as opposed to the current weight limit.
Additionally, a new category will allow larger and more complex aircraft to be built under LSA-like rules, known as Light Personal Aircraft (LPA).
EAA officials note that the new category will “likely require a recreational or private pilot certificate to operate as is the case for similar type-certificated aircraft today.”
“LPA is promising because it will fully deliver on the potential of affordable aircraft certified based on industry consensus standards,” EAA officials continued. “Along with fully manufactured aircraft, it could allow many of today’s kit aircraft to come to market factory-assembled or professionally built for customers interested in this ownership option.”
While the FAA considers the many changes to the LSA and Sport Pilot rules, EAA officials note they are “advocating for the maximum possible expansion” to the rules.
“The end result should be significantly increased utility of the sport pilot certificate and privileges, which has proven its worth as a gateway to personal aviation since 2004,” officials said.
The proposed rule is expected to be released for public comment by mid-2022, with a final rule on track for publication in the fall of 2023.
Looks like another letdown for lsa lovers.
Then of 2024 25 another 10,000 or so elderly pilots dying off waiting for the never ending and habitually slow FAA .
AOPA sold out the pilots on original drivers license rule ,let’s see what other letdowns they have in store for us.
The making of kit planes all assembled for sale without building them and the hundreds of thousands they will cost will only benefit a couple hundred pilots with the deep pockets required to own them .
Make all 4 seat uncomplicated planes LSA and end this nonsense .
You are absolutely right! Expansion of LSA or LPA [or whatever acronym they come up with] to include all reciprocating single engine aircraft is long overdue. Many of us older guys could and would be SAFELY flying 172s or Warriors without having to sweat out excessively strict medical exams every two years.
The track record of LSA has proven that pilots can do as good a job of self evaluation as AMEs charging big bucks to do the same thing…. by the BOOK. It’s time for the book to be changed.
While I acknowledge that the primary mission of the FAA is to promote safety, it’s secondary mission is to promote AVIATION. For many years now, it’s arcane rules has had the opposite effect….. keeping thousands of competent highly experienced pilots grounded with perfectly good airplanes sitting idle in hangars or on ramps This has grievously hurt the entire industry from the guys who sell the gas to the A&Ps who would be caring for all those airplanes.
But of course, the wheels of progress in OK City turn very slowly,,, at roughly the speed of glacial movement. In the meantime, about all we can do is wait. Sam Cooke summed it up eloquently: A change is gonna come!