Light Sport »

This is a summary of the light-sport aircraft category, the requirements to obtain a sport pilot certificate, and requirements to obtain a repairman certificate with a maintenance or inspection rating. More complete details can be found at the FAA’s website, faa.org.

Light-Sport Aircraft:
The FAA defines a light-sport aircraft as an aircraft that, since its
original certification, has continued to meet the following:

1. Maximum gross takeoff weight—1,320 lbs, or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes.
2. Lighter-than-air maximum gross weight—660 lbs (300 kg.)
3. Maximum stall speed—5 1 mph (45 knots)
4. Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)—138 mph (120 knots)
5. Single or two-seat aircraft only
6. Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel engines
7. Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
8. Unpressurized cabin
9. Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider
10. Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport (S-LSA) aircraft certification category. Aircraft must meet industry consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
11. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built.

Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight  instruction for the owner of the aircraft.

1. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if the aircraft has previously been operated as an ultralight but does not meet the FAR Part 103 definition of an ultralight vehicle. These aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008.
2. Will have FAA registration—N-number.
3. Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control (“Trike” Land/Sea), Glider, and Powered Parachute.
4.  U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
5. Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light-sport aircraft category. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
6. May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.205, if such operations are allowed by the aircraft’s operating limitations and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.

The Sport Pilot Rule:
A sport pilot may exercise flight privileges in one or more of the following aircraft categories:

1. Airplane (single-engine only)
2. Glider
3. Lighter-than-air (airship or balloon)
4. Rotorcraft (gyroplane only)
5. Powered Parachute
6. Weight-Shift control aircraft(e.g. Trikes)
7. Creates a new student sport pilot certificate
8. Creates a new sport pilot flight instructor certificate.
9. Requires FAA knowledge (written) and practical (flight) test.
10. Credits ultralight training and experience toward a sport pilot certificate providing the ultralight pilot transitions to a sport pilot certificate by 31 January 2007.
11. Credits sport pilot flight time toward more advanced pilot ratings.
12. Requires either a 3rd class FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver’s license as evidence of medical eligibility (provided the individual’s most recent application for an FAA medical certificate was not denied, revoked, suspended or withdrawn).
13. Does not allow carrying passengers for compensation or hire
14. Does not allow flights in furtherance of business
15. Allows sharing (“pro-rata”) operating expenses with another pilot.
16. Allows daytime flight only.
17. Allows sport pilots to fly vintage and production aircraft (standard airworthiness certificate) that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.

Sport Pilot Flight Instructors:
The new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule:

1. Creates new sport pilot flight instructor certificate.
2. Allows conversion to sport pilot instructor status for ultralight instructors (provided the instructor makes the transition by 31 January 2008).
3. Allows current CFI’ s to train sport pilots.

Repairmen Certificates
The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule creates a new Light-Sport Repairmen certificate—with either a maintenance or inspection rating. To earn an FAA repairman certificate of any type, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Speak, read, and understand English
3. Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
4. Demonstrate the requisite skill to determine whether an E-LSA or S-LSA is in a condition for safe operation
5. For an Inspection rating—complete a 16 hour course on the inspection requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft;
6. For a Maintenance rating—complete a course — 120 hours (airplane category); 104 hours (weight shift or powered parachute); 80 hours (glider or lighter-than-air) -- on the maintenance and inspection requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft.

Other LSA Maintenance Options
The annual condition inspection on special light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft--can be completed by:

1. An appropriately rated mechanic—that is, A&P (Airframe & Powerplant)
2. An appropriately rated repair station; or
3. A light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating.

Preventive maintenance can be performed by a certificated pilot (Sport Pilot rating or higher).  The annual condition inspection on experimental light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft--can be completed by:

1. An appropriately rated mechanic—that is, an A&P
2. An appropriately rated repair station; or
3. A light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating; or
4. A light-sport repairman with an inspection rating (only on aircraft you own).

No rating is required to perform maintenance on experimental light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft.

For more detailed information on sport pilot regulations and rules please call us.  Bo McCoy at 505-642-3026.