Inspection Certificate

[Adam Weiss]

The weekend before last, I took the 2-day light sport repairman certification class offered by Rainbow Aviation.
With MOSAIC, my Vans RV-9A can be classified as light sport, and since it's Experimental/Amatuer-built, with this certificate, I can now do my own annual (condition) inspections.
I was always able to do my own maintenance, but I needed an IA to sign off.
Now, I can completely maintain and inspect my plane.
I live in an airpark community, so I don't have hangar rent, either.
My cost of ownership is unbelievably low.

GA is going through a massive shift right now, and MOSAIC is helping to drive some great opportunities.
In theory, Textron could reclassify the C172 as a light-sport (and Piper could do the same with the Archer).
Then, a person could take C172 built as a light-sport and reclassify as E/AB, then do all their own maintenance like I am with my plane.
Could you imagine what this would do to the affordability and popularity of flying?
It might even drive enough volume to make these machines more affordable (I'm not holding my breath, but it's possible).

I've talked to some folks close to the industry, who were sitting around the table at the MOSAIC talks, and they feel the biggest blocker of this is Textron/Piper/etc.
They don't want to give up any control over their aircraft.
Maybe they're right. Time will tell if a bunch of owner-maintained light sport aircraft start falling out of the sky.
But if they don't, the availability of capable, affordable planes will only go up, insurance will only go down, and the total cost of ownership will be within reach for a wide swath of the population.
Interesting to see what happens!

 

[TCABM]

…In theory, Textron could reclassify the C172 as a light-sport (and Piper could do the same with the Archer).
Then, a person could take C172 built as a light-sport and reclassify as E/AB, then do all their own maintenance like I am with my plane.…

I’m curious on the gymnastics involved to make that happen, since the legacy type certified aircraft are originally given a standard airworthiness certificate, so will never be eligible for the Amateur Built status.

 

[Adam Weiss]

I’m curious on the gymnastics involved to make that happen, since the legacy type certified aircraft are originally given a standard airworthiness certificate, so will never be eligible for the Amateur Built status.

Definitely open to someone more knowledgeable chiming in here, but it is my understanding that you:
- Can take a certified aircraft and make it experimental; however, the owner will never be the builder, and if it wasn't a light sport to begin with, could never do the annual inspections
- Can take a certified light sport aircraft and make it experimental. Then with the two-day course, you could do your own inspections

So, all existing 172s, while could be made experimental, would always require an IA to sign off on inspections.
But, if Cessna decided to build new 172s as light sport (and again, someone with more knowledge would need to comment on if they'd need to completely start over with certification, or if a certified plane which is more strict could be "grandfathered" as a light sport), then it could in theory be made experimental, and the owner could get certified to inspect it.

 

[Bell206]

In theory, Textron could reclassify the C172 as a light-sport (and Piper could do the same with the Archer).

Its more than theory. In order for Cessna and Piper to "reclassify" an existing design as a light sport per MOSAIC, they would have to build a new version of the 172 or PA-28 and have it certified under the ASTM consensus standards per the new Part 22. There is no legal pathway to apply the CAR 3 or Part 23 prescriptive standards to the certification of a light-sport aircraft. Matter of fact I believe Part 22 has one or two eligibility rules that will prevent that application from happening. Regardless, its my understanding the existing legacy OEMs simply don't want to "re-enter" the Part 91 recreational market again with a new 172 SLSA aircraft and would rather someone else fill that requirement.

Can take a certified aircraft and make it experimental; however, the owner will never be the builder, and if it wasn't a light sport to begin with, could never do the annual inspections

Not quite. Yes, you can take a TC'd aircraft experimental, but only for Exhibition, R&D, etc. and not Amateur-Built. And once it is Experimental, Part 43 is no longer applicable, so it will be listed in the aircrafts operating limitations who can perform the condition inspection which is typically an A&P mechanic or CRS.

 

[jbarrass]

The concept of light sport aircraft is gone. Even the term has been removed from the FAR.

MOSAIC did 4 things, that are similar and align, but are not the same.

1. Pilots: Changed the limitations on what a Sport Pilot (or PP, Com, ATP exercising SP privileges) can fly. Bigger faster planes, no medical required. much of the legacy fleet can be flown by an SP.

2. Aircraft: Added changes to the FAR which addresses what aircraft can be certified under consensus (ATSM) standards. This replaces LSA though all existing LSA were built under ATSM so will remain approved. Lots of room for expansion to bigger faster planes, though the market has not yet spoken. These aircraft are/will be issued special airworthiness certificates.

3. Repairman: Changed much about the Repairman Rating including the inspection rating (for ATSM manufactured aircraft owned by the repairman) and Maintenance rating (maintenance and condition inspection) for all ATSM manufactured aircraft and EAB aircraft including for hire. Note: Repairman can not maintain or inspect aircraft certified under Part 23 or CAR 3 even if they can be flown by SP. Basically nothing with a standard airworthiness certificate.

4. EAB: EAB rules (tied to #3) allow the condition inspection to be done by the builder, the owner with an inspection rating, or any Repairman with a maintenance rating)

....and some more nuanced changes

Much confusion results when people use the term LSA in most contexts.

 

[Adam Weiss]

I fly 100+ hrs/yr at 155kts true for basically $40/hr in fuel.
Someday I'll have an engine overhaul to deal with, but I can afford it when it comes, so I don't put away specifically for it.
I pay insurance and normal maintenance, but that's it.
I'm pinching myself at how affordable my dream is.

Like I said, exciting to see where the industry is headed.

 

[Dana]

With MOSAIC, my Vans RV-9A can be classified as light sport, and since it's Experimental/Amatuer-built, with this certificate, I can now do my own annual (condition) inspections.
I was always able to do my own maintenance, but I needed an IA to sign off.

No. Your E-AB RV-9A does not become light-sport; it's forever E-AB. What MOSAIC does is allow a sport pilot to fly it, and also expands the LSRI certificate privileges so you can do the inspection on any E-AB you own.

You never needed an IA to sign off the inspection; any A&P could do the condition inspection.

In theory, Textron could reclassify the C172 as a light-sport (and Piper could do the same with the Archer).
Then, a person could take C172 built as a light-sport and reclassify as E/AB, then do all their own maintenance like I am with my plane.

No. Textron could certify new C-172s as SLSA under MOSAIC, but it wouldn't change existing 172s, which will continue to require an A&P for maintenance and an IA for the annual. And you can't take a light-sport and reclassify it as E-AB. What you can do is take an aircraft registered as SLSA (special light-sport) an re-register it as ELSA (experimental light-sport); then you can work on it without an A&P and do the inspection as an LSRI.

Note, too, that even with the LSRI certificate you can't do the inspection yourself until you apply to the FAA for updated operating limitations saying that an LSRI can do the inspection for your particular aircraft.

 

[kyleb]

This should have been a lot less complicated. Instead, they threw away old terminology, created new terminology, and took far too many words to explain all of the changes.

 

[Bell206]

This should have been a lot less complicated. Instead, they threw away old terminology, created new terminology, and took far too many words to explain all of the changes.

Interesting. From my experience, I found they brought things more into the fold of existing rules and processes which I believe sets the foundation for possible future adjustments to the sport pilot and LSRM/I certificates.

 

[kyleb]

Interesting. From my experience, I found they brought things more into the fold of existing rules and processes which I believe sets the foundation for possible future adjustments to the sport pilot and LSRM/I certificates.

Oh, I think it is an improvement, but I’d prefer it written in Reader’s digest format.

 

[Adam Weiss]

No. Your E-AB RV-9A does not become light-sport; it's forever E-AB. What MOSAIC does is allow a sport pilot to fly it, and also expands the LSRI certificate privileges so you can do the inspection on any E-AB you own.

You never needed an IA to sign off the inspection; any A&P could do the condition inspection.

No. Textron could certify new C-172s as SLSA under MOSAIC, but it wouldn't change existing 172s, which will continue to require an A&P for maintenance and an IA for the annual. And you can't take a light-sport and reclassify it as E-AB. What you can do is take an aircraft registered as SLSA (special light-sport) an re-register it as ELSA (experimental light-sport); then you can work on it without an A&P and do the inspection as an LSRI.

Note, too, that even with the LSRI certificate you can't do the inspection yourself until you apply to the FAA for updated operating limitations saying that an LSRI can do the inspection for your particular aircraft.

I knew someone more knowledgeable would come along!
Thanks for clarifying on the 1st two points: my RV-9A is still an EAB, and an A&P could sign off (but I couldn't previously).
However, I think we were saying the same thing on the 3rd point. Textron could certify new 172s to MOSAIC, but not the existing fleet.
And you are correct on the operating limitations.

 

[HornedFrogGrant]

No. Your E-AB RV-9A does not become light-sport; it's forever E-AB. What MOSAIC does is allow a sport pilot to fly it, and also expands the LSRI certificate privileges so you can do the inspection on any E-AB you own.

Exactly. I was just about to type the same thing.

 

[idahoflier]

Welcome to the party! Hopefully the new rules gain momentum!