MOSAIC Finalized

[Dana]

So how does a plane become certified under LSA or ELSA vs EAB?
I ask because I think I heard in the Vans interview on tube that LSA can be built without worrying about the 51% rule and without concern for amateur built only.

There are two paths to ELSA certification: either built from an ELSA approved kit from a manufacturer who also makes an SLSA version, or a paperwork "conversion" of an existing SLSA to ELSA. Really the only advantage of an ELSA kit vs E-AB is that the 51% rule doesn't apply, but it has to be built exactly per the kit plans (unlike E-AB where you can change anything you want).

 

[Brad Z]

717 pages. I didn't make it past 2. I think I'll wait for the Reader's Digest version. (who remembers what that means?)

The executive summary is five pages, double spaced.

 

[bbchien]

Even better, it's in the table on pages 585 and 585.

 

[Lance Link]

I see a sticky wicket here, which may be a function of my lack of research or understanding. Seems like the criterion for a PILOT is a restriction that one can only fly under sport pilot standards if the PLANE one is flying has a stall speed of 59 knots KCAS or less. (That seems to leave out some Piper Cherokees, for example). Further, it seems to be difficult to determine the KCAS stall speed of some aircraft, as the Owner's manuals or POHs sometimes only list the stall speed in KIAS. How to skin that cat?

 

[bbchien]

There is an IAS to CAS table in the POH, Lance....and VS1
is CLEAN stall speed. In the straight pre 1975 Cherokee 180 that's 58 kts CAS.

 

[Michael Kaminski]

Can someone elaborate more on the Helicopter ad on endorsement? Are there a list of included helicopters? Saw anything 2pax or less.

 

[Neil Rubin]

Can someone elaborate more on the Helicopter ad on endorsement? Are there a list of included helicopters? Saw anything 2pax or less.

The new option for sport pilot helicopter privileges is only available for two-seat (or one-seat) helicopters with “simplified controls.” These helicopters (probably in practice multi-rotor aircraft like quadcopters, which are considered to be “helicopters” for pilot rating purposes, as long as there is no lift-producing fixed wing) cannot have traditional helicopter controls (cyclic and collective) and instead will have a touchscreen/joystick/etc. where you tell the aircraft where you want to go and it figures out the necessary flight control inputs. There are no such aircraft certificated or accepted by the FAA today, but the idea for these helicopters “simplified controls” rules for sport pilots (and for higher ratings as well) is that this is how you will become a pilot of one of the future quadcopters that might be wisking people around cities or whatever. If you want to fly a Robinson R22 or whatever, you will still need at least a Recreational cert and BasicMed or above.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Do you have any knowledge of existing RV-12s (or any other LSA for that matter) increasing the gross takeoff weight due to MOSAIC? From what I've been told the limit on a lot of these is a 'paper' limit and the actual capability of the aircraft is a bit more substantial.

Existing S-LSA / E-LSA are stuck at 1320

21.181 3 A special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category is effective as long as all of the following conditions are met...
(iv)
For aircraft originally certificated prior to [INSERT DATE 365 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDRAL REGISTER], the aircraft meets all of the following conditions:
(A)
A maximum takeoff weight of not more than 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on water blah blah blah

 

[Michael Kaminski]

The new option for sport pilot helicopter privileges is only available for two-seat (or one-seat) helicopters with “simplified controls.” These helicopters (probably in practice multi-rotor aircraft like quadcopters, which are considered to be “helicopters” for pilot rating purposes, as long as there is no lift-producing fixed wing) cannot have traditional helicopter controls (cyclic and collective) and instead will have a touchscreen/joystick/etc. where you tell the aircraft where you want to go and it figures out the necessary flight control inputs. There are no such aircraft certificated or accepted by the FAA today, but the idea for these helicopters “simplified controls” rules for sport pilots (and for higher ratings as well) is that this is how you will become a pilot of one of the future quadcopters that might be wisking people around cities or whatever. If you want to fly a Robinson R22 or whatever, you will still need at least a Recreational cert and BasicMed or above.

Thanks that was the reply I was looking for. Was super confused as to if I'd be able to go back to my R22 training and ultimately be able to fly without a solo signoff but just an endorsement as a Sport endorsed heli pilot.