In case you missed it, on July 24, 2023, the FAA published a proposed rule titled “Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification” to the Federal Register. Known as MOSAIC, the rule is 90 pages in the print version of the Federal Register. This is no easy read.
The comment period closes on Oct. 23, 2023. So far, more than 440 comments have been filed.
If you’d prefer a more palatable option to digest the high points of the proposal, tune in to the recording of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) webinar, “MOSAIC: Expanding Light Sport.”
I joined nearly 900 other interested people when I tuned in live on Sept. 14, 2023. As a bonus, I earned one WINGS credit for Knowledge Topic 2 just for watching the 90 minute webinar.
EAA polled attendees on two questions:
Are you a Sport Pilot currently?
- 10% Trained as Sport Pilot
- 20% Private or higher certificate but exercising Sport Pilot privileges
- 55% Exercising the privileges of higher rating
- 15% Not currently a certificated pilot
Does the aircraft currently flown meet the proposed LSA definition?
- 72% Yes
- 20% No
- 8% Not Sure
Suffice it to say, MOSAIC is a significant evolutionary step forward from the original light sport regulation that is now about 20 years old.
Webinar hosts Tom Charpentier, EAA Government Relations Director, and Rob Hackman, EAA Vice President, Government Affairs, did an admirable job translating government speak into civilian English and answered a number of very specific questions in the webinar’s closing 20-plus minutes.
If you have even a passing interest in MOSAIC, I suggest you tune in.
The proposed rule seems good. The speed which it can be ratified is slow and shameful.
Here we go again. 30 years ago, the long-forgotten Primary Category was going to reinvigorate the industry and lower the cost of flying. It didn’t. LSA/SP was supposed to do the same and its impact was far less than predicted by the aviation alphabets. Now MOSAIC is going to solve everything. Clearly, waiting on a government solution has only taken us backwards, so why not abolish government regulations for sport aircraft altogether and let free markets determine who wants, and who gets, what. Which might be an array of aircraft for different requirements, abilities, and budgets. What is needed most is an aircraft engine at a much lower cost that is now available, which probably means a diesel auto engine conversion. No aircraft company could afford to build and sell an unsafe product as it would mean financial disaster. It is simply not a given that a government solution or government intervention is a requirement for advancement in science and business.
I asked that the FAA do some transparency and post clearly what one hast to do to certificate an engine. Obviously with MOSAIC we are not talking about a turbo-jet. I have thrown out paperwork that is over 3 years old, where we attempted to get started on such a project because the only time/way I would get a response is when they were out of office, I’d get an out of office notification.
How can anyone work on such a thing, when you don’t know how many engines you have to *give* to the FAA while pursuing a TC (an FAA TAX). Once that is done, then one has to start STC work for each TC’ed airframe to get that engine available for that aircraft maker/model.
The FAA is attempting to speed up the delivery of new technology and equipment into General Aviation aircraft with MOSAIC. Hats off to them for their efforts to make this happen!
Let’s get out the vote and get General Aviation comments on this NPRM. If you don’t like something, suggest an alternative. If you have a better idea, lay it out for them. We should be making every effort to get this into the rule books pronto.
A great idea nevertheless, let’s not leave basic stick and rudder skills be left behind. They are still essential.
Why in the world would you think that this would be the case? Perhaps you don’t understand what the Mosaic program is all about. There’s nothing about flying under Sport Pilot rules that lessens the requirements for basic skills.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I am a huge proponent of stick and rudder skills. I’m a glider pilot and a rag wing tail dragger.
That said, there’s no reason to make it easier and quicker for entrepreneurs to get new equipment to market. The FAA wants to make it easy for “store bought” airplanes to be able to use the same technology as the experimental airplanes.