- 660 pounds (300 kilograms) for lighter-than-air aircraft;
- 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on water; or
- 1,430 pounds (650 kilograms) for an aircraft intended for operation on water.
These aircraft will be registered as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft. You have only until JANUARY 31, 2008 to transition the airplane into the Experimental Light Sport Aircraft category. If you did apply for registration on or before January 31, 2008, but did not complete the airworthiness inspection process by that date, you can make use of an exemption issued to USUA. This exemption will give you until January 31, 2010 to have your airworthiness inspection completed. Contact USUA for more information.
An operating limit is available, allowing these aircraft to be used for hire, for flight instruction, until 1/31/2010.
- Register the aircraft; get N-number from FAA (after October 1, 2004)
- A condition inspection will be completed and a DAR will issue the SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE
- FAA will establish the operating limitations for these aircraft
- Manufacturers safety recommendations will be REQUIRED (Periodically, manufacturers will release bulletins detailing modifications and procedures that are recommended for safety concerns. These recommendations are required to be performed on this type of LSA.)
- Aircraft registrations for LSA will be accepted October 2004
- Annual condition inspections will be required of your aircraft.
YOU CAN fly over congested areas because FAA now knows how the aircraft is designed, produced, flight tested and maintained. Annual condition inspections will be required.
Kit builders will be able to take advantage of the LSA rule as well. A manufacturer will issue a STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE FOR THE KIT (manufactured in accordance with the industry consensus standard)
"IF THE MANUFACTURER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MANUFACTURE AN AIRCRAFT TO BE ISSUED A SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE, AND HAS DONE THAT AT LEAST ONCE, THEN THAT MANUFACTURER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BUILD KIT AIRCRAFT TOO."
- Kits are not eligible for compensation or hire or rental operations
- Possibly no flight over congested areas (this depends on modifications performed to the specific aircraft)
- Manufacturers safety recommendations will be recommended, not required
- Annual condition inspections will be required.
- Aircraft registrations for LSA will be accepted October 2004
- Annual condition inspections will be required.
Original designs and "built from plans" aircraft that meet the LSA definition, can be registered as Experimental Homebuilt, and are subject to the 51% rule. A Sport Pilot, as long as they meet the LSA definition, can fly these aircraft.
- Manufacturers will issue a STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE FOR AIRCRAFT OR KIT (manufactured in accordance with the industry consensus standard)
- The country of manufacture must have an agreement with the US to assure that there is at least a dialog between the US and that country
- The aircraft must be eligible in that country for flight authority (if that country doesn't want the aircraft flying there, FAA doesn't want it flying here).
(Yes, this was a real question) N-Numbers will be required to be displayed on all LSA including powered parachutes and trikes. Displayed N-Numbers will be at least 3 inches high and positioned on a structural member. On some aircraft, there is no structural member that will accommodate this size marking, so a 3-inch plate will need to be permanently affixed to allow for this. In addition to the N-Number, appropriate placarding is required. Experimental LSA will have the word EXPERIMENTAL on the side of the aircraft, and special LSA (newly built) will have the words LIGHT SPORT on the side.
Annual condition Inspections on aircraft in the E-LSA category, can be performed by the holder of a Repairman certificate with an Inspection rating for that aircraft. Annual condition inspections on S-LSA aircraft, and 100 hour inspections (when applicable) on both E-LSA and E-LSA aircraft can be performed by the holder of a Repairman certificate with a Maintenance rating. Of course, A&P mechanics can also perform these required inspections.
Maintenance is another issue. You may maintain your own Experimenal aircraft, but you may not charge for your services. In order to perform maintenance on some else's aircraft for a fee, you will need to hold the Repairman certificate with a Maintenance Rating.
A Repairman with Inspection or Maintenance rating, can be obtained by attending one of the FAA-approved courses, being offered. The Rapairman with Inspection rating, is a 16 hour course. The Repairman with Maintenance rating, is a longer course, taking between 104 and 120 hours to complete (depending on which category and class you want the rating for).
Some important dates to remember are:
- Deadline for an ultralight pilot to take the sport pilot practical test without having to prove the applicant met the requirements of 61.309, 61.311 and 61.313.
- Deadline for an ultralight instructor to take the practical test for sport pilot instructor without having to prove you meet the aeronautical knowledge requirements specified in 61.407, the flight proficiency requirements specified in 61.409 and the aeronautical experience requirements specified in 61.411. (From 61.431)
- The FAA issued ultralight training exemptions allowing BFIs to use 2 seaters for training expires
- Fat ultralights and ultralight trainers need to be registered as an E-LSA under 21.191(i)(1)
January 31, 2010: Operating Limit, allowing E-LSA planes to be used for hire, expires.
January 31, 2012: Pilot and CFI applicants can no longer use former ultralight time toward their sport pilot or sport pilot CFI certificates.
