LSA

LSA - Light Sport Aircraft

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The Consensus Standards

In general, LSA designs conform to the ASTM International’s F-37 Light-Sport Aircraft Committee Consensus Standards, which were accepted by FAA in 2005. The origins of the Consensus Standards actually go back to the 1990's and the ultralight movement, but until recently they had little official meaning in the United States.

The LSA Consensus Standards set forth rules governing which aircraft may be flown by Sport Pilots. In addition to vintage aircraft that meet these requirements, new aircraft that are specifically designed to comply with these standards from the date of manufacture can be certificated as Light Sport Aircraft.

Manufacturers of a production S-LSA that is factory-built in accordance with FAR 21.190 can apply for a Special Airworthiness Certificate that allows the aircraft to be registered (It will have an "N-Number, just like any other certificated aircraft) and flown by any properly certificated pilot (including Sport Pilots), as well as be used for rental or instruction for hire.

In addition, amateur-built or kit-built aircraft that meet the requirements of an LSA can be registered as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (E-LSA). These aircraft may be flown by any properly certificated pilot, but have some restrictions on their use (for example, they can't be rented or used for instruction for hire).

In some cases, the same model of LSA may be available as either a factory-built S-LSA or as a kit. In these cases, only the factory-built versions may be certificated as S-LSA. The amateur-built or kit versions must be registered as E-LSA, and will forever come under E-LSA operational restrictions. This is an important consideration as it will undoubtedly affect the resale value of the aircraft.

New factory-built, production S-LSA are becoming available all the time and can be used for personal flying as well as rental or instruction for hire.

In the EASA regulatory area, additional limitations apply.

LSA - What is a Light Sport Aircraft?

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According to the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 1, a light-sport aircraft is an aircraft other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:

Maximum takeoff mass (MTOM)
- Aircraft not intended for operation on water: 600 kg (1320 lbs)
- Aircraft intended for operation on water: 650 kg (1430 lbs)
- Lighter-than-air aircraft: 300 kg (660 lbs)
Maximum speeds: 120 kts (138 mph) at maximum power
Max stall speed: 45 kts (51 mph)
Maximum seating capacity: 2 persons
Single reciprocating engine, if powered
Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
Auto-feathering prop OK for powered gliders
Fixed-pitch, semi-rigid, teetering, two-blade rotor system, if a gyroplane
Non-pressurized cabin
Fixed landing gear
Retractable landing gear OK for glider or seaplanes

This definition does not specify certification category for the aircraft. Any aircraft that meets these specifications is considered an LSA, regardless of its certification type. Thus, according to the definition an Aeronca 7AC certificated as a Standard Aircraft, a Challenger II certified as an Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft, and a Sonex certificated as an Experimental Amateur-Built Aircraft are all considered LSA in the USA.

This distinction is important from the piloting side of the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulations, since the regulations allow a person to exercise sport pilot privileges in any aircraft that meets the LSA specifications. That means a pilot with a sport pilot rating or better in the appropriate aircraft category can legally fly any LSA, no matter how it was certificated.

Differences in EASA regulatory areas:

Only new and factory-built LSA and S-LSA are feasible to be certified under the coming ELA 1 CS-LSA rules, no homebuilts, no kits.
A standard JAR Pilot's Licesne is required to fly an (S-)LSA registerd in European countries.

S-LSA - What is a Special Light-Sport Aircraft?

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A Special Light-Sport Aircraft:

May be in any of the following aircraft "classes"
- Airplane (fixed-wing)
- Weight-shift
- Powered parachute
- Glider
- Lighter-than-air
  (Note that gyroplanes are not included in the allowable S-LSA classes)
Is designed to meet LSA specifications
Is certified by the manufacturer to meet a set of industry-developed "consensus standards" that specify design, testing, manufacturing, and quality control requirements. Note that, unlike type certificated "standard" aircraft, the FAA is not at all involved in the design, testing, manufacturing, and quality control of S-LSAs.
May be sold complete, ready to fly
May be offered in kit form
May be built in other countries that have a Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement (BAA) or Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) with the United States
May not be modified unless approved by manufacturer
May have preventive maintenance done by sport pilot or better, if authorized by the manufacturer's maintenance manual. Note that this is different from a type-certificated aircraft, where preventive maintenance can be done by the owner.
May have maintenance and the annual condition inspection performed by either an A&P mechanic or a Light-Sport Repairman- Maintenance (LSRM). A person can become eligible for an LSRM certificate by attending an 80-120 hour training course.
May be flown at night or in IFR conditions if properly equipped and maintained.

In the EASA regulatory area, an S-LSA owner can register a factory new aircraft based on a Permit to Fly from his local NAA (National Aviaiton Authority). The manufacturer must provide a EASA signed . S-LSA with a permit to fily will automatically become ELA 1 (CS-LSA) aircraft when the ELA rules will be in place.

E-LSA - What is an Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft?

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An Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft:

May be in any of the following aircraft "classes"
- Airplane (fixed-wing)
- Weight-shift
- Powered parachute
- Glider
- Gyroplane
- Lighter-than-air
Is one of three kinds:
- Previously unregistered "ultralight-like" vehicle that meets LSA specifications. These aircraft must be registered before January 31, 2008. In late January 2008, the FAA issued exemptions to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Aero Sports Connection (ASC) which allow the certification deadline to be extended to January 31, 2010 for any ELSA that was registered before January 31, 2008 or whose registration paperwork was in the FAA system by that time. For more information on the exemptions, visit www.eaa.org, www.sportpilot.org, or www.aerosports.org.
- A kit version of an S-LSA. Note that the January 31, 2008 deadline does not apply here.
- An S-LSA the owner elects to convert to E-LSA so he/she can make modifications & perform maintenance. Note that the January 31, 2008 deadline does not apply here.
May be maintained or modified by anybody-there are no requirements on who may perform maintenance or modifications on E-LSAs.
May have annual condition inspection performed by an A&P mechanic, a Light-Sport Repairman- Maintenance (LSRM), or the owner as a Light-Sport Repairma- Inspection (LSRI). An E-LSA owner can become eligible for an LSRI certificate by attending an 16-hour training course. Note that an LSRI can perform the annual condition inspection on only an E-LSA that he or she owns. Also note that an LSRI cannot perform the annual condition inspection on an Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft.
May be flown at night or in IFR conditions if appropriately equipped and maintained.