Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements SAAA Authorised Persons

Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements SAAA Authorised Persons Familiarisation training Southport Queensland 23 September 2006 Uncontrolled Document 1

What is an LSA • New category of aircraft (does not replace any other existing category) – Existing registered aircraft are NOT applicable • • • Production or kit built (no 51% rule) MTOW 600 kg (650 kg for sea planes) Max 2 person Single engine – Non turbine Certificated by the manufacturer Continuing airworthiness controlled by the manufacturer 2

LSA Project History • FAA issues NPRM 31 January 2002 • CASA initiates LSA Project October 2002 • CASA NPRM issued June 25 2003 – 27 responses received – Overall positive response to the proposal • FAA LSA aircraft rule commences Sept 1 2004 – ASTM standards not available until March 2005 3

LSA Project History • LSA Project Team conducted a Safety Risk Analysis of the draft regulations • Advisory Circulars published for comment on CASA website July 2005 – AC 21 -41 LSA CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS • http: //www. casa. gov. au/rules/1998 casr/021 c 41. pdf – AC 21 -42 LSA MANUFACTURER’S REQUIREMENTS • http: //www. casa. gov. au/rules/1998 casr/021 c 42. pdf 4

LSA Project History • Amendments to CASRs made 15 December 2005 – LSA aircraft eligible to operate under VH registration • Amendments to CAO made 3 January 2006 – LSA aircraft eligible to operate under the sports organisations (RAA, HGFA, ASRA) 5

Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Project Team • CASA staff • Industry representation – Sports organisations – Manufacturers – Other specialists, • Authorised Persons, Reg 35 engineers. 6

Light Sport Aircraft Definition • MTOW 600 Kg – 650 Kg for seaplanes – Lighter-than-air gross weight of 560 kg • • • 2 person Unpressurised cabin Stall speed 45 knots Vso Single engine non-turbine Fixed undercarriage – Except glider may have retractable – Amphibian may have repositionable landing gear • If glider Vne of 135 CAS 7

Variation with FAA definition • Stall speed – VS 0 45 knots (CASR) • Stall speed with flaps – VS 1 45 knots (FAA) • Stall speed in clean configuration • Never exceed speed Vne for glider – 120 knots (FAA) – 135 knots (CASR) • Propeller – Fixed pitch or ground adjustable (FAA) – No requirements (CASR) • Lighter-than-air – 560 kg (CASR) – 300 kg (FAA) 8

Light Sport Aircraft Categories • • • Fixed Wing Weight Shift Powered Parachutes Gyroplanes Gliders Lighter-Than-Air 9

What is not an LSA • • • Hang gliders Para gliders Multi-engine aircraft Helicopters Complex aircraft – Retractable undercarriages – Turbine engine 10

Benefits of LSA • Purchase costs reduced. • Improves the entry process for LSA. • Potential export markets. – Estimated USA market will be 6, 500 aircraft in next 5 years and 800 a year after that. – Enables Australian manufacturers to have access to USA LSA market. • CASA’s minimal involvement. – More staff available for higher priority work. – Regulatory responsibilities and requirements transferred to the manufacturer. 11

Responsibilities • Manufacturer responsible for – Certification • Shows compliance with LSA standards – Continuing airworthiness. • • • Approval of major repairs/modifications Assessment of defects Issue of Service Directives Issue of Service Bulletins etc Database of aircraft owners 12

Responsibilities • CASA responsible for – approving LSA standards • Participate with industry in periodically reviewing LSA standards – Overseeing authorised persons who issue certificates of airworthiness – Registration of aircraft if CASA registered. – Impose conditions or directions, if necessary, in the interests of safety. 13

Responsibilities • Authorised Persons responsible for – Verifying manufacturer’s statement of compliance – Ensuring operating instructions, maintenance manuals etc are available – Inspecting the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation – Issuing a special certificate of airworthiness. 14

Responsibilities • Operator of a Production LSA is responsible for ensuring – The maintenance and inspections are in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements. – All major repairs, modifications and maintenance are approved by the manufacturer – The aircraft is operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s operating instructions 15

Responsibilities • Operator of a Production LSA is responsible for ensuring (cont’d) – All manufacturer’s service directives are carried out – The aircraft has a warning placard and passengers are informed of the warning – Applicable equipment ADs (if any) are complied with. • RAA aircraft exempt from ADs (covered by technical manual) 16

Proposed amendments to regulations 17

CASR Part 21 Amendment – Enable qualified LSA manufacturers to certify aircraft complies with LSA standards • design, quality assurance, production testing and continuing airworthiness. 18

CASR Part 21 Amendment – Enable CASA or an Authorised Person (AP) to issue a special airworthiness certificate for production LSA. – Enable CASA or an AP to issue an experimental certificate for kit built LSA • Must be produced by a manufacturer of production aircraft. – Cannot produce a one off kit built aircraft – There is no 51% rule for kit LSA 19

Qualified Manufacturer • Has a current production certificate for an aircraft ; or • Has made a written declaration indicating – Contracted an experienced engineer in light aircraft design – Suitable facility and tools – Trained, experienced and skilled staff 20

LSA Standards • Consist of – ASTM consensus standards (approved by FAA) • • design, quality assurance, production acceptance test and continued operational safety system – Other acceptable design standards • JAR VLA, BCARS etc 21

ASTM standards • FAA asked ASTM to facilitate consensus standards for LSA • Committee of manufacturers, aviation sports bodies and regulators. • Each aircraft category responsible for developing their own standards • So far 27 standards have been issued – Listed in Advisory Circular 21 -42 22

LSA Certificate of Airworthiness • Two types of Certificate – Special Certificate of Airworthiness for LSA • Production Aircraft – Experimental Certificate for LSA • Kit built aircraft • Production aircraft that do not comply with Continuing AW requirements 23

Production LSA • Special C of A is issued if: – Aircraft manufactured by a qualified LSA manufacturer – Applicant gives CASA or AP • Statement of compliance signed by the manufacturer • Aircraft operating instructions, maintenance and inspection procedures and flight training supplement issued by the manufacturer – These are returned to the applicant • If manufactured overseas – Aircraft manufactured in a Contracting State and is eligible for a C of A – CASA or AP finds the aircraft in a condition for safe operation 24

Statement of Compliance • Aircraft make, model, serial number and date of manufacture • Aircraft complies with LSA standards for – – Design Manufacture Production acceptance testing Continuing airworthiness • Make available operating instructions, maintenance and inspection manual and flight training manual • Aircraft is manufactured by a qualified manufacturer 25

26

Conditions for Special C of A for LSA • The special C of A LSA stops being in force – If a major modification/repair is not authorised • by the manufacturer or • by a person appointed by CASA if the manufacturer no longer exists – If the aircraft does not comply with the LSA standards 27

Modifications • ASTM Maintenance Standard, F 2483 -05, defines any repair, alteration or maintenance for which instructions to complete the task are excluded from the maintenance manual(s) supplied to the consumer are considered major. • Major repairs, alterations etc must be approved by the manufacturer. – This includes CAR 35 modifications. 28

Experimental LSA • Experimental Certificate under CASR 21. 191(j) - Kit built aircraft • Manufacturer’s statement of compliance • Assembly instruction from the manufacturer. • Operating instructions, aircraft maintenance and inspection procedures and flight training supplement • The same make and model as a production aircraft • Must satisfy the LSA definition 29

Experimental LSA • Experimental Certificate under CASR 21. 191(k) – These production aircraft that no longer satisfy the LSA requirement applicable for Special C of A • Not complied with Manufacturer’s CAW requirements, or • Not complied with safety directives or • Has unauthorised modifications – Must still satisfy the LSA definition 30

Airworthiness Directives • In general, CASA will not issue ADs for LSA models. • Some specific ADs may still be applicable to VH registered aircraft – Aeronautical products • Type certificate engines and propellers • Equipment such as transponders, flight instruments, radio and navigational 31

CAO amendments • Amendments to CAO 95 series have been issued to allow the sport organisations to operate – Production LSA and – Kit LSA. • These requirements mirror the LSA requirements in CASR Part 21 32

Operating limitations • Experimental/kit LSA Category – No change to current Experimental kit limitations • Production aircraft – Private operations – Flight training – Glider towing – Hire 33

Operating limitations Production LSA • Must not operate unless – Maintenance has been carried out IAW manufacturer’s requirements • Maintenance CAO 95. 56 exempts certain requirements in the regulation for VH aircraft only. – Aircraft inspected every 12 months • If undergoing flight training, hire etc every 100 hours – All major mods/repairs authorised by the manufacturer – Placard warning is displayed and each passenger is informed of the warning 34

Operating limitations Production LSA • Unless approved by the manufacturer the aircraft must not be operated contrary to – the operating instructions – Safety Direction issued by the manufacturer • This has the same affect as an AD 35

Operating limitations Production LSA • CASA may impose additional operating limitations in the interests of safety – CASA must give this to each registered operator of the aircraft 36

Operating limitations Production aircraft • In the case that a manufacturer no longer exists – Major modifications/repairs, safety directives, maintenance and inspection procedures can be issued by a person appointed by CASA. – If no person is appointed by CASA, these aircraft will have to operate under an experimental certificate 37

Process for operating an LSA under RAA • Purchase a Light Sport Aircraft – Production – Kit • Make sure the manufacturer/distributor supplies – A Statement of Compliance signed by the manufacturer – Operating Manual – Maintenance manual – Flight test supplement 38

Process for operating an LSA under RAA • Register the Aircraft with RAA • Fill out an application for a C of A • Contact an Authorised person to issue the Cof. A – Authorised person will need to ensure it complies with the LSA requirements and is in a safe condition for operation. – If it is a kit the AP also needs to ensure that a production aircraft of the same make and model has been issued with a special C of A. • The AP issues a C of A • Go fly the aircraft 39