FAA to Increase Light Sport Aircraft Weight to 3600 Pounds

[Palumboism]

It looks like the FAA is increasing the Max Takeoff weight of Light sport aircrafts to 3600 lbs in 2019.  It's also allowing four seats and a max speed of 150 Knots (172 mph).  For example, a Cirrus SR20 would now qualify as a Light sport aircraft. Somebody at the FAA actually read the memo and figured out that this President wants LESS bureaucracy and LESS regulation.

For recreational pilots this is good news because a light sport pilots license is significantly easier to get.

Training requirements for a sport pilot certificate are:

    A minimum of 20 hours flight time including:
        15 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor.
        5 hours solo flight.
    Flight training must include at least:
        2 hours cross-country flight training.
        10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop.
        One solo cross-country flight of at least 75 nautical miles.

For the sport pilot certificate, you must:
    Be at least 17 years old
    Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
    Hold a current and valid U.S. driver's license

The Cirrus SR20 could be certified as a light sport


https://generalaviationnews.com/2018/10/08/lsa-weight-to-increase-to-3600-pounds-another-ads-b-rebate-in-the-works/

[Palumboism]

For comparison, the previous light sport aircraft limits were:
    1,320 pounds maximum takeoff weight for aircraft
    Maximum speed 120 knots 
    Maximum seating capacity of two
   


Czech built Sport Cruiser was certified as a light sport

[SOMEPARTS]

Quite a jump. This means two things.

1) idiots falling out of the sky at a higher rate

2) cheaper weed

[Parker]

For comparison, the previous light sport aircraft limits were:
    1,320 pounds maximum takeoff weight for aircraft
    Maximum speed 120 knots 
    Maximum seating capacity of two
   


Czech built Sport Cruiser was certified as a light sport

Any Lexus engined planes qualify for this?

[Palumboism]

The creation of the light sport aircraft designation and pilots license was  the greatest change in Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) since the FAA was founded.  This increase in weight, seating, and speed are significant.

In addition, any aircraft that meets the specification of an LSA is considered an LSA regardless of its certification type, so it could be an experimental amateur-built aircraft and still be considered an LSA and is legal to fly by a pilot with a sport pilot certificate.

A light-sport aircraft does not have a type certificate so S-LSA and E-LSA are not type certificated. Rather, they are issued a statement of compliance with industry standards. The S-LSA designation indicates a manufacturer built the aircraft, while the E-LSA designation indicates the aircraft was built by kit.  You can use a special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) for flight training and rental, but not an E-LSA.

[Palumboism]

Quite a jump. This means two things.

1) idiots falling out of the sky at a higher rate

2) cheaper weed

Actually, I think they made the change to make LSA aircraft safer.  a 1300 pound aircraft is like a kite compared to a 3600 pound aircraft.  Light sport aircraft were having statistically higher accidents to regular aircraft and the primary reason was they were to light.  This was a needed change.

[Kwon3]

So how does Goodrum keep it airborne if his body weight is higher than the aircraft? F16s propping it up under the landing gear?

[SOMEPARTS]

Actually, I think they made the change to make LSA aircraft safer.  a 1300 pound aircraft is like a kite compared to a 3600 pound aircraft.  Light sport aircraft were having statistically higher accidents to regular aircraft and the primary reason was they were to light.  This was a needed change.

I've been up in one of the 1300lb jobs...experimental self build... it was SCARY.

[Palumboism]

I've been up in one of the 1300lb jobs...experimental self build... it was SCARY.

The FAA has been so stubborn they wouldn't allow the Cessna 140, which weighs 1450 pounds to be certified as an LSA.  The limits on LSA's are just stupid. 

[Elvis_McCartney]

How much do wone of these aircraft costs these days?

[RJ DRIVER]

This seems like a silly and dangerous rule change.  An inexperienced pilot getting in a faster airplane with the ability to carry more people?  It’s way too easy to get behind in a fast airplane.  Adding 2 additional seats just leaves more room to overload an airplane or improperly balance it.  I wonder what’s behind the rule change.

[Palumboism]

This seems like a silly and dangerous rule change.  An inexperienced pilot getting in a faster airplane with the ability to carry more people?  It’s way too easy to get behind in a fast airplane.  Adding 2 additional seats just leaves more room to overload an airplane or improperly balance it.  I wonder what’s behind the rule change.

Why do you want more government regulation?  Don't we enough government regulation and bureaucracy as it is?

Most people feel safer in a four seat airplane with ADEQUATE power and a MTOW of 3600 pounds than an UNDER POWERED two seat airplane with a MTOW of 1320 pounds.  I really don't see this as a dangerous rule change.  

It's much easier to overload an airplane when your MTOW is 1320 pounds.  Really a 1320 pound MTOW airplane isn't very usable because it has no range.  People want to use an airplane to go from point A to point B.  

[Palumboism]

How much do wone of these aircraft costs these days?

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher is the best selling model and it starts at $150,000 before adding options.  This model is popular with flight schools.





The Kitfox is the second best selling light sport and the It starts at $95,000.  This model is very popular with bush pilots because it can land anywhere with those fat tires.  It comes standard with a Rotax 912 engine.  The Rotax engine dominates the light sport market because of it's low cost, light weight, and high power output.

[Palumboism]

The Icon A5 doesn't quite qualify to be an light sport with a maximum takoff weight of 1500 pounds. The A5 costs $380,000 with options.  For that price you might as well get a Cirrus.

https://www.flyingmag.com/icon-inflates-purchase-price

I will give them credit on the interior.

[The_Punisher]

does that means a Cirrus SR20 can take off 3 min after behind an A380 and everything would be just fine?

[RJ DRIVER]

Why do you want more government regulation?  Don't we enough government regulation and bureaucracy as it is?

Most people feel safer in a four seat airplane with ADEQUATE power and a MTOW of 3600 pounds than an UNDER POWERED two seat airplane with a MTOW of 1320 pounds.  I really don't see this as a dangerous rule change.  

It's much easier to overload an airplane when your MTOW is 1320 pounds.  Really a 1320 pound MTOW airplane isn't very usable because it has no range.  People want to use an airplane to go from point A to point B.  

You make some very valid points.  I was only looking at it thru a narrow scope. Thanks for the insight.  As far as the 4 seats go I still feel that is dangerous.  A lot of 4 seat aircraft cannot  safely carry 4 “regular” sized people unless the fuel load is significantly reduced.

[Palumboism]

You make some very valid points.  I was only looking at it thru a narrow scope. Thanks for the insight.  As far as the 4 seats go I still feel that is dangerous.  A lot of 4 seat aircraft cannot  safely carry 4 “regular” sized people unless the fuel load is significantly reduced.

This problem is significantly worse for a light sport when you only have a 1320 pound max takeoff weight.  The light wing loading means any wind or turbulence affects the flight of the aircraft and the light controls mean the pilot over corrects possibly resulting in a crash.  

I think the FAA should have taken their specification off the Cessna 152 or Piper Tomahawk as far as max takeoff weight and max speed are concerned.  These are both popular two seat, all metal, trainers with Lycoming engines that are easy to fly.

[avxo]

Why is this of concern to me? Like all getbiggers, I’ve got a private Airbus A380. I let the Saudi royal family lease it on occasion, but I think I’m gonna stop that. Plane ends up smelling like goat for hours!

[RJ DRIVER]

This problem is significantly worse for a light sport when you only have a 1320 pound max takeoff weight.  The light wing loading means any wind or turbulence affects the flight of the aircraft and the light controls mean the pilot over corrects possibly resulting in a crash.  

I think the FAA should have taken their specification off the Cessna 152 or Piper Tomahawk as far as max takeoff weight and max speed are concerned.  These are both popular two seat, all metal, trainers with Lycoming engines that are easy to fly.

I agree those are some great planes that are very forgiving. My flying club has a 150 and that’s the plane I enjoy the most just because of its simplicity.

[Palumboism]

The FAA Part 23 re-write will also make certifying aircraft weighing less than 19,000 pounds with less than 19 passengers much easier.  For reference, that's Gulstream G200 or Cessna Soverign size at the maximum.  There will be four levels of difficulty based on passenger count and speed.

    Level 1 – no more than one passenger
    Level 2 – 2-6 passengers
    Level 3 – 7 to 9 passengers
    Level 4 – 10 to 19 passengers

Also, The FAA has accepted ASTM International standards as a means of certification for Part 23 aircraft.  

It sounds boring, but the end result will be more innovation and less costly aircraft.

https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/advocacy-briefs/understanding-part-23-rewrite