Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

The Sport Pilot certificate was created in 2004 in an effort to increase the number of entry-level pilots. In order to decrease both the difficulty and expense of becoming a pilot, the requirements for becoming a Sport Pilot were lessened from that of the Private Pilot certificate. The reduced requirements permitted fewer hours of flight training, and thus lowered the cost of obtaining a certificate. But the overall goal of implementing the Sport Pilot certificate was to not only reduce the costs of becoming a pilot, but also the costs of operating as a Sport Pilot. Toward this end, the FAA created an entirely new class of aircraft, the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).

An LSA is defined as any category of aircraft (excepting helicopters and powered-lift aircraft) that conforms to the following characteristics and performance standards:

  • Maximum gross takeoff weight of 1,320 lbs, or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes
  • Maximum stall speed of 51 mph (45 knots) calibrated airspeed
  • Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power of 138 mph (120 knots) calibrated airspeed
  • Single or two-seat aircraft only
  • Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel engines
  • Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
  • Unpressurized cabin
  • Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider

Aircraft of all of the following categories and classes may be operated by Sport Pilots as long as they conform with the above requirements: Airplanes (Land and Sea), Gyroplanes, Airships, Balloons, Weight-Shift-Control (Land and Sea), Gliders, and Powered Parachutes. There are a number of airplanes which have been around for many years that may be operated by Light Sport pilots. Sport Pilots may operate airplanes such as Piper J-3 Cubs, some Aeronca models, and many others even though they are not certified as Light Sport aircraft. As long as an airplane conforms to the Sport Pilot standards, it may be operated by a Sport Pilot.
 

Before the creation of the Sport Pilot rules, all new airplane designs were required to go through a standard FAA certification process. This process is extremely expensive, and adds significantly to the final cost of any new airplane. In fact, the process is so expensive that fewer and fewer small airplanes were being brought to market. With larger airplanes, such as business jets, the expected profit margin per unit sold makes it feasible to take a new design through the certification process. However, with smaller, simpler aircraft, which would have a much slimmer profit margin, it was often deemed an unprofitable venture to attempt to take a new design to market. 

The FAA addressed that issue by eliminating the requirement that LSAs undergo the same certification process that applies to all other aircraft. Instead, during the creation of the Sport Pilot rules, industry consensus standards were developed which all manufacturers must comply with. Each manufacturer must certify that their aircraft complies with the consensus standards. Each manufacturer must also certify that they have enacted a quality assurance program, and must demonstrate that they have complied with the quality assurance program.

As a result of these changes, it is much more feasible for a manufacturer to design and bring to market a new aircraft, and as a result, a veritable flood of new LSA designs has invigorated a previously stagnant market.
 

For all non-LSA aircraft, all maintenance (other than simple preventative maintenance) and all condition inspections must be performed by a mechanic who holds an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate. In an effort to further reduce the costs of owning and operating an LSA, the FAA created the Light-Sport Repairmen certificate, which may be earned with either an Inspection or Maintenance rating. The Inspection rating requires the completion of a 16-hour training course, while the Maintenance rating requires completion of a course of up to 120 hours. The training requirements for each rating are much less than what is required to obtain an A&P certificate.

One of the more significant costs of owning an airplane of any type is the condition inspection that is required on an annual basis. The annual inspection is extensive and labor-intensive, and though the owner may assist, it requires the services of an A&P with an Inspection Authorization. However, the owner of an LSA who has completed the training requirements for a Maintenance rating may perform the condition inspection entirely on their own, resulting in significant savings. The owner of an Experimental-LSA who holds only an Inspection rating may also perform the condition inspection.

The privileges of the Light-Sport Repairmen certificate are applicable only to LSAs, and are not applicable to any other class of aircraft.
 

Early indications are that the ultimate goal of Sport Pilot may be achieved. As of January 2008, there were already 2,031 light sport pilots in the United States, and around 3,000 certified Light Sport aircraft. Only time will tell, but many industry experts are optimistic that Light Sport will ultimately play a significant role in re-invigorating general aviation.