Sport pilot/LSA began in the early 1990s when the ultralight community petitioned the FAA to liberalize the regulations to allow heavier, faster and more capable aircraft…and to allow ultralight pilots to carry a passenger. Instead of taking this route, the FAA decided to retain the ultralight rule, FAR Part 103, but to generate an entirely new category of pilot's license and a new category of aircraft they could fly.

In February 2002, the FAA released its sport pilot/light-sport aircraft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and asked for public comment during a 90-day period. On May 6, 2002, the public comment period closed with more than 4000 comments and suggestions logged. After the final rule is announced-expected by late 2003 or early in '04-the FAA and the light-aircraft industry expect a major increase in recreational flight resulting from thousands of new pilots and new aircraft.

LSA was defined in the NPRM as:

"A simple single-seat or two-seat aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 1320 pounds, a maximum level speed of 115 knots, a maximum stall speed of 39 knots, a maximum of one engine, and no complex systems such as in-flight variable-pitch propellers or retractable gear".

Any aircraft that meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft as called out in FAR Part 1.1 is eligible to be operated by a sport pilot. These aircraft can be certificated in any category, such as standard, experimental amateur-built, experimental exhibition, experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA), or special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA).

New categories of aircraft never before regulated by the FAA would be included. The types would include airplanes, gliders, weight-shift (powered trikes), lighter than air (balloons and blimps), gyroplanes and powered parachutes. Pilots would obtain a logbook signoff from an instructor for each type of aircraft to be flown.

• Existing certified, manufactured aircraft that meet the definition. For example, Piper J-3 Cubs and Aeronca 7AC Champions would qualify
• Amateur-built, Experimental-category homebuilts that meet the LSA definition. There are many.
• Light-sport Special, a new category of factory-built, ready-to-fly aircraft certified under a new concept termed consensus standards that would be adopted by the aviation community. These aircraft could be used in flight training and could be rented
• Light-sport Experimental, which would be produced as kits by factories for assembly by customers. Unlike the amateur-built Experimental category, however, these kits could be nearly complete by the factory. They would conform to the consensus standards, but they could not be used for hire (rental).Consensus Standards?

The requirement is for industry-wide standards for design, manufacturing, testing, quality assurance, documentation and follow-up support. In early 2002, EAA proposed engaging ASTM International, an independent, nonprofit, 100+-year-old test standards organization for administering the entire consensus standards activity. ASTM does not charge for its administration and has a long track record of helping industries develop their own standards. ASTM was elected to assist, and the process of developing LSA standards began immediately. The work is conducted primarily by volunteers using e-mail.

The sport pilot/light sport aircraft NPRM encourages manufacturers to group together aircraft with similar handling characteristics. This will enable sport pilots to self-endorse rather than obtaining an instructor's endorsement for each make and model of aircraft. Maneuvers specified by the manufacturer in the pilot's operating handbook must be followed by the sport pilot to self-endorse prior to carrying a passenger. The Make/Model Task Group will be meeting at the Marriott Waterside on 19 Nov 2003.

The airplane is base at the
Lantana, Fl Municipal Airport KLNA

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