US EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT RULE

US EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT RULE Earl Lawrence

A New Era Begins • September 1, 2004 the first set of aviation regulations for nontransportation aviation created • Largest US aviation rulemaking project in over 50 years • Affects all areas of FAA regulation: – Maintenance; Aircraft Certification; Pilot and Instructor Certification; Aircraft Operations 2

Major Highlights • New Factory Aircraft Certification category • First FAA implementation of Public Law 104 • Costs to produce aircraft was cut in half • Cost to become a pilot was cut in half 3

Major Highlights • Aircraft owners can obtain training and certification to perform their own annual condition inspections • Manufacturers, NOT FAA, approve aircraft modifications • Maintenance and continued airworthiness standard- setting moved from FAA to industry (ASTM International) 4

FAA/Industry Action • First two factory aircraft certificated only six months after passage of rule – Primary category 1 ½ years for Katana – 1 year and 10 months for Quicksilver GT 500 – 9 years for RANS S-7 • A total of over 30 SLSA certifications have been issued to date 5

FAA/Industry Action • New engines available conforming to ASTM International standards – Rotax 912 series – Jabaru four and six cylinder models 6

FAA/Industry Action • ASTM International completed, and received FAA acceptance of, standards for fixed-wing LSAs, gliders, powered parachutes, and weight shift aircraft • FAA trained and appointed over 100 DPEs for all categories of SP licenses (fixed, gyro, parachute, etc. ) 7

FAA/Industry Action • FAA is actively refining and improving the original FAA policies and procedures for: – – maintenance-training, Practical Test Standards Aircraft certification policies Designated Airworthiness Representative Policies and Training – Designated Pilot Examiner Policies and Training 8

FAA/Industry Action • King Schools has a multimedia DVD training curriculum for sport pilots and Sport Pilot Instructors • EAA has a “conversion kit” to assist with certificating of two-place ultralights. Over 2, 000 conversion kits sold to date • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sport Flying 9

FAA/Industry Action • 862 LSAs certificated or awaiting certification • 627 SP airman knowledge tests administered • 125 current DPEs have added SP examiner authority • 43 new SP DPEs have been created/designated • More than 100 New Sport Pilot Repairmen have been trained and certificated 10

Airplanes Aeropro CZ Euro. Fox · Aerosport Ltd. Breezer · Aerosport Ltd. C 42 Ikarus · Aerostar Festival · Aircraft Manufacturing & Development CH 601 XL · American Legend AL 3 C-100 Cub · B&F Technik Vertriebs FK-9 Mark IV · Czech Aircraft Works CH-601 -XL · Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid · Czech Aircraft Works Parrot · Czech Aircraft Works Sport Cruiser · Evektor Sportstar · Fantasy Air Allegro · Flight Design CT · GRYF Aircraft Spol MD 3 Rider · Indus Aviation T 211 Thorpedo · · Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow 600 Sport · Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J 170 -SP · Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J 250 -SP · JIHLAVAN Airplanes KP-5 Kappa · Just Aircraft Highlander · RANS S-7 LS · Remos Aircraft G-3 · Storm Aircraft Rally LSA · Taylorcraft Avation. Taylor Sport · Tecnam Bravo · Tecnam Echo Super · Tecnam Sierra · TL Ultralight Sting Sport · Zlin Savage 11

Non Fixed Wing Powered Parachutes · Summit II Weight Shift · Airborne Windsports. Edge XT-912 -B · GTE 912 · Tanarg 912 12

TECNAM ITALY 13

INDUS AIR 14

State of Industry • OEM’s – Most are European based – Many young and cash strapped companies but growing fast – Aircraft are currently being produced in Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, US 15

State of Industry • Manufacturers – Many entering the market are experienced European companies – The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) is the lead organization for the manufacturers and it has over 65 members. www. lama. bz • Insurance Companies – Most are interested in providing insurance; weight shift and powered parachute still an issue 16

State of Industry • FAA – Education of the inspectors still a stumbling block to full implementation • FBOs – Just learning about the opportunities; reactions vary although schools of all sizes are offering training • Instructors – Cautious but when they are exposed to the opportunities they have recognized the economic benefits of the new rules 17

State of Industry • ASTM Standards – Over 3, 000 ASTM International standards are used as the basis for national standards by reference in regulation in over 50 countries – Full International support in development of the standards – At least three Civil Aviation Authorities participated in the development of the standards • • • US Australia Canada 18

State of Industry – ASTM International Standards have been adopted for use in the Australia, US, and Colombia – ASTM International is being considered for adoption in Israel, Spain, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand 19

ASTM International Committee F 37: Non-US Participation 20

State of Industry • Standards are written to be relevant regardless of the country in which they are used • Standards are separate from local regulations; they do not dictate limits such as weight, speed, or complexity of the aircraft • The aircraft categories that are allowed to use the ASTM standards, and enforcement of the standards, is left with the individual CAA 21

What Can You Do or Buy Today • Current FAA Pilot certificate holders can operate with a drivers license as their medical • Obtain a Sport Pilot Student Pilot Certificate • Hundreds of existing Amateur-built and Classic aircraft models can be flown by Sport Pilots • New Light Sport Aircraft are available 22

What Can you Do or Buy Today • Insurance for Pilots, FBOs and instructors is available for LSA airplanes • Current flight instructors can provide Sport Pilot training • Certificate “heavy” ultralight as Experimental 23

What Is New As a result of the rule • Aircraft manufacturers have quickly adopted use of ASTM International Standards world wide • Aircraft sales are strong • Industry self policing of compliance with ASTM International standards is starting to be put into place • Major education of regulators and industry still needed 24

What is New (cont. ) • Flight Schools with new LSA report significant increase in new student starts • Autogas or unleaded Avgas, not Avgas, is the correct fuel and airport availability is an issue • Many owners will be certificated FAA Repairmen • Significant amount of misinformation about new regulations 25

Questions 26