us experience with the light sport aircraft rule earl lawrence

US EXPERIENCE WITH THE US EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT

RULERULE

Earl LawrenceEarl Lawrence

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A New Era BeginsA New Era Begins

• September 1, 2004 the first set of September 1, 2004 the first set of aviation regulations for non-aviation regulations for non-transportation aviation createdtransportation aviation created

• Largest US aviation rulemaking project Largest US aviation rulemaking project in over 50 yearsin over 50 years

• Affects all areas of FAA regulation:Affects all areas of FAA regulation:– Maintenance; Aircraft Certification; Pilot and Maintenance; Aircraft Certification; Pilot and

Instructor Certification; Aircraft OperationsInstructor Certification; Aircraft Operations

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Major HighlightsMajor Highlights

• New Factory Aircraft Certification New Factory Aircraft Certification categorycategory

• First FAA implementation of Public First FAA implementation of Public Law 104Law 104

• Costs to produce aircraft was cut in Costs to produce aircraft was cut in halfhalf

• Cost to become a pilot was cut in Cost to become a pilot was cut in halfhalf

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Major HighlightsMajor Highlights

• Aircraft owners can obtain training and Aircraft owners can obtain training and certification to perform their own annual certification to perform their own annual condition inspectionscondition inspections

• Manufacturers, NOT FAA, approve Manufacturers, NOT FAA, approve aircraft modifications aircraft modifications

• Maintenance and continued Maintenance and continued airworthiness standard- setting moved airworthiness standard- setting moved from FAA to industry (ASTM from FAA to industry (ASTM International)International)

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FAA/Industry ActionFAA/Industry Action

• First two factory aircraft certificated only First two factory aircraft certificated only six months after passage of rulesix months after passage of rule– Primary category 1 ½ years for KatanaPrimary category 1 ½ years for Katana– 1 year and 10 months for Quicksilver GT5001 year and 10 months for Quicksilver GT500– 9 years for RANS S-79 years for RANS S-7

• A total of over 30 SLSA certifications A total of over 30 SLSA certifications have been issued to datehave been issued to date

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• New engines available conforming New engines available conforming to ASTM International standardsto ASTM International standards– Rotax 912 seriesRotax 912 series– Jabaru four and six cylinder modelsJabaru four and six cylinder models

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• ASTM International completed, and ASTM International completed, and received FAA acceptance of, received FAA acceptance of, standards for fixed-wing LSAs, standards for fixed-wing LSAs, gliders, powered parachutes, and gliders, powered parachutes, and weight shift aircraftweight shift aircraft

• FAA trained and appointed over 100 FAA trained and appointed over 100 DPEs for all categories of SP licenses DPEs for all categories of SP licenses (fixed, gyro, parachute, etc.)(fixed, gyro, parachute, etc.)

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• FAA is actively refining and improving FAA is actively refining and improving the original FAA policies and procedures the original FAA policies and procedures for:for:– maintenance-training,maintenance-training,– Practical Test StandardsPractical Test Standards– Aircraft certification policiesAircraft certification policies– Designated Airworthiness Representative Designated Airworthiness Representative

Policies and TrainingPolicies and Training– Designated Pilot Examiner Policies and Designated Pilot Examiner Policies and

TrainingTraining

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• King Schools has a multimedia DVD King Schools has a multimedia DVD training curriculum for sport pilots and training curriculum for sport pilots and Sport Pilot Instructors Sport Pilot Instructors

• EAA has a “conversion kit” to assist EAA has a “conversion kit” to assist with certificating of two-place with certificating of two-place ultralights.ultralights. Over 2,000 conversion kits Over 2,000 conversion kits sold to datesold to date

• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sport The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sport FlyingFlying

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• 862 LSAs certificated or awaiting 862 LSAs certificated or awaiting certificationcertification

• 627 SP airman knowledge tests 627 SP airman knowledge tests administeredadministered

• 125 current DPEs have added SP 125 current DPEs have added SP examiner authorityexaminer authority

• 43 new SP DPEs have been 43 new SP DPEs have been created/designatedcreated/designated

• More than 100 New Sport Pilot Repairmen More than 100 New Sport Pilot Repairmen have been trained and certificatedhave been trained and certificated

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AirplanesAirplanes

Aeropro CZ EuroFox Aeropro CZ EuroFox Aerosport Ltd. BreezerAerosport Ltd. Breezer Aerosport Ltd. C42 IkarusAerosport Ltd. C42 Ikarus Aerostar Festival Aerostar Festival Aircraft Manufacturing & Aircraft Manufacturing &

Development CH601XLDevelopment CH601XL American Legend AL3C-100 CubAmerican Legend AL3C-100 Cub B&F Technik Vertriebs FK-9 Mark IV B&F Technik Vertriebs FK-9 Mark IV Czech Aircraft Works CH-601-XLCzech Aircraft Works CH-601-XL Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid Czech Aircraft Works Mermaid Czech Aircraft Works Parrot Czech Aircraft Works Parrot Czech Aircraft Works Sport Cruiser Czech Aircraft Works Sport Cruiser Evektor Sportstar Evektor Sportstar Fantasy Air Allegro Fantasy Air Allegro Flight Design CT Flight Design CT GRYF Aircraft Spol MD 3 Rider GRYF Aircraft Spol MD 3 Rider Indus Aviation T211 ThorpedoIndus Aviation T211 Thorpedo

Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow Iniziative Industriali Italiane Sky Arrow 600 Sport 600 Sport

Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J170-SP Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J170-SP

Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J250-SPJabiru USA Sport Aircraft J250-SP

JIHLAVAN Airplanes KP-5 Kappa JIHLAVAN Airplanes KP-5 Kappa

Just Aircraft Highlander Just Aircraft Highlander

RANS S-7LS RANS S-7LS

Remos Aircraft G-3 Remos Aircraft G-3

Storm Aircraft Rally LSA Storm Aircraft Rally LSA

Taylorcraft AvationTaylor Sport Taylorcraft AvationTaylor Sport

Tecnam Bravo Tecnam Bravo

Tecnam Echo Super Tecnam Echo Super

Tecnam Sierra Tecnam Sierra

TL Ultralight Sting Sport TL Ultralight Sting Sport

Zlin Savage Zlin Savage

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Non Fixed WingNon Fixed Wing

Powered ParachutesPowered Parachutes Summit II Summit II

Weight ShiftWeight Shift

Airborne WindsportsEdge XT-912-B Airborne WindsportsEdge XT-912-B

GTE 912 GTE 912

Tanarg 912Tanarg 912

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TECNAM ITALYTECNAM ITALY

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INDUS AIRINDUS AIR

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State of IndustryState of Industry

• OEM’s OEM’s – Most are European based Most are European based – Many young and cash strapped Many young and cash strapped

companies but growing fastcompanies but growing fast– Aircraft are currently being produced Aircraft are currently being produced

in Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, in Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USFrance, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, US

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• ManufacturersManufacturers– Many entering the market are experienced Many entering the market are experienced

European companiesEuropean companies– The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association

(LAMA) is the lead organization for the (LAMA) is the lead organization for the manufacturers and it has over 65 members. manufacturers and it has over 65 members. www.lama.bzwww.lama.bz

• Insurance CompaniesInsurance Companies– Most are interested in providing insurance; Most are interested in providing insurance;

weight shift and powered parachute still an weight shift and powered parachute still an issueissue

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• FAAFAA– Education of the inspectors still a stumbling Education of the inspectors still a stumbling

block to full implementationblock to full implementation

• FBOsFBOs– Just learning about the opportunities; Just learning about the opportunities;

reactions vary although schools of all sizes reactions vary although schools of all sizes are offering training are offering training

• InstructorsInstructors– Cautious but when they are exposed to the Cautious but when they are exposed to the

opportunities they have recognized the opportunities they have recognized the economic benefits of the new ruleseconomic benefits of the new rules

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• ASTM StandardsASTM Standards– Over 3,000 ASTM International standards are used as Over 3,000 ASTM International standards are used as

the basis for national standards by reference in the basis for national standards by reference in regulation in over 50 countriesregulation in over 50 countries

– Full International support in development of the Full International support in development of the standardsstandards

– At least three Civil Aviation Authorities participated At least three Civil Aviation Authorities participated in the development of the standardsin the development of the standards

• USUS• AustraliaAustralia• CanadaCanada

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– ASTM International Standards have been ASTM International Standards have been adopted for use in the Australia, US, and adopted for use in the Australia, US, and Colombia Colombia

– ASTM International is being considered for ASTM International is being considered for adoption in Israel, Spain, South Africa, adoption in Israel, Spain, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand Canada, New Zealand

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ASTM International ASTM International Committee F37:Committee F37:Non-US ParticipationNon-US Participation

AustraliaBahamasCanadaCzech RepublicFinlandFranceGermanyNew ZealandPolandRussiaSwitzerlandUK

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• Standards are written to be relevant regardless Standards are written to be relevant regardless of the country in which they are usedof the country in which they are used

• Standards are separate from local regulations; Standards are separate from local regulations; they do not dictate limits such as weight, they do not dictate limits such as weight, speed, or complexity of the aircraft speed, or complexity of the aircraft

• The aircraft categories that are allowed to use The aircraft categories that are allowed to use the ASTM standards, and enforcement of the the ASTM standards, and enforcement of the standards, is left with the individual CAA standards, is left with the individual CAA

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What Can You Do or Buy What Can You Do or Buy TodayToday

• Current FAA Pilot certificate holders can Current FAA Pilot certificate holders can operate with a drivers license as their operate with a drivers license as their medicalmedical

• Obtain a Sport Pilot Student Pilot Obtain a Sport Pilot Student Pilot CertificateCertificate

• Hundreds of existing Amateur-built and Hundreds of existing Amateur-built and Classic aircraft models can be flown by Classic aircraft models can be flown by Sport PilotsSport Pilots

• New Light Sport Aircraft are availableNew Light Sport Aircraft are available

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What Can you Do or Buy What Can you Do or Buy TodayToday

• Insurance for Pilots, FBOs and Insurance for Pilots, FBOs and instructors is available for LSA instructors is available for LSA airplanesairplanes

• Current flight instructors can Current flight instructors can provide Sport Pilot trainingprovide Sport Pilot training

• Certificate “heavy” ultralight as Certificate “heavy” ultralight as ExperimentalExperimental

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What Is NewWhat Is NewAs a result of the ruleAs a result of the rule

• Aircraft manufacturers have quickly Aircraft manufacturers have quickly adopted use of ASTM International adopted use of ASTM International Standards world wideStandards world wide

• Aircraft sales are strongAircraft sales are strong• Industry self policing of compliance with Industry self policing of compliance with

ASTM International standards is starting ASTM International standards is starting to be put into placeto be put into place

• Major education of regulators and Major education of regulators and industry still neededindustry still needed

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What is New (cont.)What is New (cont.)

• Flight Schools with new LSA report Flight Schools with new LSA report significant increase in new student significant increase in new student startsstarts

• Autogas or unleaded Avgas, not Avgas, Autogas or unleaded Avgas, not Avgas, is the correct fuel and airport is the correct fuel and airport availability is an issueavailability is an issue

• Many owners will be certificated FAA Many owners will be certificated FAA RepairmenRepairmen

• Significant amount of misinformation Significant amount of misinformation about new regulationsabout new regulations

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QuestionsQuestions

us experience with the light sport aircraft rule earl lawrence

Documents

faa acceptance

faaindustry action faa

weight shift aircraft

training slide

original faa policies

areas of faa regulation

date slide

set of aviation regulations