OSHKOSH — Chesapeake Sport Pilot in Maryland has been granted FAA authorization to provide factory-approved Searey transition training, officials reported Tuesday at AirVenture. The flight school is the first in the nation to receive a letter of deviation authority (LODA)from the FAA specifically for Searey training, said Helen Woods, chief flight instructor of Chespeake Sport […]
Light Sport Aircraft
Skycatcher moving from LSA category
OSHKOSH — Cessna will move the 162 Skycatcher from the Light Sport Aircraft category to Part 21 to aid in certification in countries around the world that do not recognize the LSA category. In the U.S., sport pilots will still be able to fly as an LSA, according to Cessna officials. “The Skycatcher will be […]
What’s expected at Oshkosh from our LSA expert
I have several targets on my radar for follow-up at this year’s AirVenture, which kicks off tomorrow, July 23. Here’s a beforehand review; details will follow. LSA seaplanes will generate plenty of interest, I think, with Icon’s latest announcements and the dreamy new Lisa Akoya. Both are superslick but not to be outdone by the […]
Icon A5 to be powered by new Rotax
ICON Aircraft has chosen the new Rotax 912 iS engine to power its A5 Light Sport Aircraft. The new fuel-injected powerplant will be the launch engine initially available in the A5, for which ICON has taken over 750 deposits. “We’re excited to be able to incorporate BRP-Powertrain’s new fuel-injected Rotax 912 iS engine in the […]
A tale of two flight schools
Flight schools — like many private buyers — are hyperfocused on, “What does an aircraft cost to operate?” Busy flight schools operating at high volume simply must track how all the pennies add up. In this post we asked US Aviation’s Scott Severen for additional info. Why US Aviation? While much of aviation has been […]
Breezer Aircraft moves to LAL
Breezer Aircraft USA has entered into a five-year lease agreement with SUN ’n FUN to move its flight training and related aviation services to the SUN ’n FUN campus at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL) in Lakeland, Florida. In addition to Breezer Aircraft USA’s flight training, the company’s builder’s assistance for the Breezer II kits and Rotax maintenance […]
Flying the newest LSA: Sling
While out west on business, I had the chance to fly the latest SLSA on the list, the South African Sling. Earlier I’ve written about the all-metal LSA’s round-the-world flight, but now this low-wing design is being made available for sale to Americans. On a gorgeous Southern California day, Matt Litnaitzky and his associate Ryan […]
Tecnam’s Tail Dragger keeps getting better
With five models currently meeting ASTM standards for SLSA, Tecnam has established itself as the leader in prolific design of Light-Sport Aircraft. Much of this design prowess owes to family patriarch Professor Luigi Pascale, known for his incredible output of designs over the years under the company names Partenavia and Tecnam. Even into his 80s, […]
FAA clarifies who is an LSA manufacturer
Late last month, the FAA issued its anticipated notice of policy that clarifies who can qualify as a Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) manufacturer. You may wish to read the entire policy statement and, as government documents go, this one is fairly easy to read and comprehend. The agency also welcomes comments. Since this hit cyberspace, I […]