MOSAIC Rule Today?

Skyrys62 said:
With MOSAIC, the weight limitation is removed. GONE! In its place is a new set of limitations; the primary limitation will now be a “clean” stall speed (VS1) of 59 knots calibrated airspeed. Aircraft with up to four seats are now allowed, although sport pilots will still be limited to one passenger. Sport pilots are also now allowed to fly aircraft with controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear, with the appropriate training and endorsements.
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Revising my earlier misread, it does look to be 59 kts for sport pilot limitations
 
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I asked ChatGPT to "please summarize the changes to the sport pilot program described in this document"

✅​


1.​


  • Sport pilots can now fly helicopters, powered-lift aircraft, aircraft with retractable landing gear, constant-speed propellers, and high-performance airplanes.
  • Sport pilots can fly at night with proper training and endorsement.
  • Aircraft allowed now include four-seat airplanes (still limited to carrying only one passenger).
  • Limits on weight, cruise speed, and powerplant have been removed; instead, stall speed and performance are now the defining limitations.

2.​


  • Aircraft can now include rotorcraft, powered-lift, and simplified flight control aircraft.
  • FAA removed weight limits for LSAs and replaced them with a stall speed limit of:
    • 61 knots VS₀ for airplanes
    • 45 knots VS₀ for gliders
  • LSA can now have increased seating, more cargo, higher speeds, and use of electric and alternative propulsion.
  • Retractable landing gear is allowed, not just on amphibious aircraft.
  • Performance limits now based on risk and safety continuum, not rigid metrics.

3.​


  • Certain LSAs may now be used for limited aerial work (non-commercial operations).
  • Revised rules for experimental and restricted category aircraft, including space support vehicle flights without needing an air carrier certificate.

4.​


  • Repairman certificate (Light-Sport) holders can now:
    • Perform condition inspections on amateur-built aircraft of similar category/class.
    • Work on all expanded LSAs, including new types like rotorcraft.
  • Training requirements updated, aligning more with FAA’s Mechanic ACS (Airman Certification Standards).

5.​


  • FAA removed the definition of “light-sport aircraft” from § 1.1, separating certification and pilot privilege requirements more clearly.
  • Noise compliance (Part 36) is now voluntary for LSAs.
  • Revised rules for:
    • Experimental airworthiness certificates (extended validity, expanded operations)
    • Restricted category aircraft certification and operations


​


To modernize certification rules, increase safety, support innovation, and make recreational and flight training aviation more accessible—while encouraging a shift from riskier experimental aircraft to safer factory-built options.


Would you like a version formatted for briefing a pilot, an aviation training school, or another audience?
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So I already have an instrument rating. Can I scrap getting a medical in the future and still fly IFR/IMC as long as I am instrument current?

Page 158/9
IFR “operations are authorized if allowed by the [aircraft operating instructions] and engine operating instructions and if the instruments specified in § 91.205 are installed, operational, and maintained per the applicable requirements of part 91.”

PAge 254
e. IFR Privileges
Section 61.3(e) sets forth the requirements to act as pilot in command of a civil aircraft under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR flight. This section generally requires the appropriate aircraft category, class, type (if class or type is required), and instrument rating on that person’s pilot certificate for any airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift being flown.94 Neither sport pilots nor subpart K flight instructors are permitted to operate in IMC. In addition, sport pilots may not obtain an instrument rating,

So....yes (while violently shaking head no).
 
wayneda40 said:
This topic is very prone to confuse "aircraft" (light sport aircraft) with "pilot license" (SPL, PPL, etc).
The way I read the prelim docs available... someone with a "Private Pilot License" should be able to enjoy all current privileges (night, IFR, no limit on #px???) in the newly defined "light sport aircraft" (i.e. MOSAIC, stall and seat limited)... and presumable do so on merely a drivers license "medical".
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Care to clarify?

Looking at the FAA’s pre-publication final rule, p.208, the SP limitation is passengers in the plane, not seats.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/MOSAIC_Final_Rule_Issuance.pdf https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/MOSAIC_Final_Rule_Issuance.pdf

Put differently, my understanding is the airplane can now have four seats instead of two but still limits an airman exercising Sport Pilot privileges to a total of two occupants in the aircraft, without regard to the certificate level held.

I’m less focused on the airplane and more so on the exercise of privileges.
 
I asked ChatGPT this question (and supplied the MOSAIC Final Rule document):

"My first question: I'm a licensed Private Pilot. If I'm flying an aircraft fitting the category of this new light sport aircraft, how many passengers can I carry?"

Here's the answer I received from ChatGPT:
1753213180548.jpg
 
wayneda40 said:
I asked ChatGPT this question (and supplied the MOSAIC Final Rule document):

"My first question: I'm a licensed Private Pilot. If I'm flying an aircraft fitting the category of this new light sport aircraft, how many passengers can I carry?"

Here's the answer I received from ChatGPT:
View attachment 143121
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I'm assuming the caveat to that is if you are a PPL but let your medical or BasicMed lapse, you are now operating under Sport Pilot rules and have to follow all of them.
 
If it’s 61 knots clean, even my Comanche would be an “LSA”. Crazy! I just got my medical. I guess I won’t bother for the next one.
 
Skyrys62 said:
With MOSAIC, the weight limitation is removed. GONE! In its place is a new set of limitations; the primary limitation will now be a “clean” stall speed (VS1) of 59 knots calibrated airspeed. Aircraft with up to four seats are now allowed, although sport pilots will still be limited to one passenger. Sport pilots are also now allowed to fly aircraft with controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear, with the appropriate training and endorsements.
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Unless I am missing something, that will allow a V-Tail Bonanza (among others). That's a BIG shift.
 
wayneda40 said:
I asked ChatGPT this question (and supplied the MOSAIC Final Rule document):

"My first question: I'm a licensed Private Pilot. If I'm flying an aircraft fitting the category of this new light sport aircraft, how many passengers can I carry?"

Here's the answer I received from ChatGPT:
View attachment 143121
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That’s nice. Since I’ve never exercised SP (or held) a SP certificate, how were those privileges addressed for a private pilot exercising sport pilot privileges yesterday?
 
midwestpa24 said:
I'm assuming the caveat to that is if you are a PPL but let your medical or BasicMed lapse, you are now operating under Sport Pilot rules and have to follow all of them.
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This. There is a table on page 636(!) of the final rule that confirms it.

It looks like a lot of the Sport Pilot changes happen in 90 days but most of the aircraft changes aren't effective for a year.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
If it’s 61 knots clean, even my Comanche would be an “LSA”. Crazy! I just got my medical. I guess I won’t bother for the next one.
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As long as you aren't planning on putting anyone in the back or flying at night, at least from my interpretation of the new rules.
 
Half Fast said:
With MOSAIC, you’ll be able to fly many more planes; heavier, four seats, faster, etc., without needing to get a medical.
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Ok, but do all the existing planes meeting those new standards automagically become flyable by me as as a PPL exercising SP privileges sans medical? Or is there some sort of aircraft status change that must take place? And what if a sport pilot repairman turns a wrench on them?

Another more obscure question. Does the DL medical rule contain the same provision as Basic Med disallowing anyone denied or deferred a Class 3 medical?
 
Ed Haywood said:
Ok, but do all the existing planes meeting those new standards automagically become flyable by me as as a PPL exercising SP privileges sans medical? Or is there some sort of aircraft status change that must take place? And what if a sport pilot repairman turns a wrench on them?

Another more obscure question. Does the DL medical rule contain the same provision as Basic Med disallowing anyone denied or deferred a Class 3 medical?
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The rule for sport pilot is that you cannot have been denied or deferred previously, unless an SI was subsequently issued and not withdrawn. So the folks that were denied currently have no path to sport pilot.
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Although I'm am not an expert in this, if you are flying a certificated airplane (not an LSA) it will still have to be maintained according to the original issuance.
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Ed Haywood said:
Ok, but do all the existing planes meeting those new standards automagically become flyable by me as as a PPL exercising SP privileges sans medical? Or is there some sort of aircraft status change that must take place? And what if a sport pilot repairman turns a wrench on them?
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Existing planes won't need anything done to them, much like a Champ (which is not a light-sport aircraft, but falls under the current light-sport limits) doesn't need anything done for a holder of a SP ticket, or a private or higher with no medical flying under Sport Pilot privileges, to fly it.

I haven't looked much at the repairman stuff, but I highly doubt that a Light Sport Repairman certificate would give any privileges for working on type-certificated airplanes. I think there's something in there about expanding what kind of things they can do, but unless I'm mistaken it's still all LSA and maybe EAB.

Ed Haywood said:
Another more obscure question. Does the DL medical rule contain the same provision as Basic Med disallowing anyone denied or deferred a Class 3 medical?
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To fly with Sport Pilot privileges, whether you're a SP, PP, or whatever, you have to have a valid driver's license AND not have had your most recent medical denied or revoked. So the answer to your question is "Yes".
 
I haven't read through the rule yet, so take this with a grain of salt (and a lick of lime and a shot of tequila), but....

Ed Haywood said:
Ok, but do all the existing planes meeting those new standards automagically become flyable by me as as a PPL exercising SP privileges sans medical?
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My understanding is "yes." When the original LSA category was created, many Cubs, Ercoupes, etc., became eligible automatically. No reclassification was needed.

Ed Haywood said:
And what if a sport pilot repairman turns a wrench on them?
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A SP repairman today cannot wrench on certificated aircraft. Only on SLSAs, which are LSAs having a "Special" airworthiness certificate.
 
Reading through the FAA document...
  • Increases the light-sport category maximum stall speed to 61 knots CAS VS0
  • Increases the stall speed for airplanes that a sport pilot may operate to 59 knots CAS VS1.
So... if I understand that correctly, a new LSA design can have a 61 knot dirty stall speed. A non-LSA flown by a SP or someone flying with SP privileges has to be at or below 59 KCAS VS1. I think that even includes things like Comanches, no?
 
DaleB said:
Reading through the FAA document...
  • Increases the light-sport category maximum stall speed to 61 knots CAS VS0
  • Increases the stall speed for airplanes that a sport pilot may operate to 59 knots CAS VS1.
So... if I understand that correctly, a new LSA design can have a 61 knot dirty stall speed. A non-LSA flown by a SP or someone flying with SP privileges has to be at or below 59 KCAS VS1. I think that even includes things like Comanches, no?
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Seems so confusing, why not just one or the other.
 
I hope this encourages a lot of new LSA offerings from Technam, Flight Design, Super Petrol and others. I’m less interested in legacy aircraft than I am in unshackling existing LSA designs that were saddled with artificially low weights and stall speeds. Is there any speed restriction (I hope not)?
 
szwinger said:
I hope this encourages a lot of new LSA offerings from Technam, Flight Design, Super Petrol and others. I’m less interested in legacy aircraft than I am in unshackling existing LSA designs that were saddled with artificially low weights and stall speeds. Is there any speed restriction (I hope not)?
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250kts I believe.
 
Interesting that the table in 61.303 (p. 676) differentiates between pilots holding a medical and pilots only having a driver's license, but makes no mention at all of Basic Med. Does a pilot with Basic Med revert to the driver's license rules?
 
TCABM said:
Sure, but now that a DL medical can get you a 182, I fear that already price premiumed model will become even more so. We’re actively shopping for a 182 right now and I’ll know within a day or so how the seller’s are current sellers/market is reacting to this news.

It’s also why I wonder how the insurer’s are going to accept this change.
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But you can only fly it during the day with the drivers license medical. If you want to fly at night you have to have basic med or 3rd.
 
I'm glad to see this. Reading the PDF that was attached to this thread, it looks like it's not "clean" it's "without flaps".

I can easily have a stall speed for v-tail lower than that with the gear hanging out, even with zero flaps. Can't wait to read the final rule.
 
Half Fast said:
Interesting that the table in 61.303 (p. 676) differentiates between pilots holding a medical and pilots only having a driver's license, but makes no mention at all of Basic Med. Does a pilot with Basic Med revert to the driver's license rules?
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None of this means anything to you if you're under Basic Med, since you're not flying with Sport Pilot privileges and can already fly anything that qualifies as LSA.
 
Half Fast said:
Interesting that the table in 61.303 (p. 676) differentiates between pilots holding a medical and pilots only having a driver's license, but makes no mention at all of Basic Med. Does a pilot with Basic Med revert to the driver's license rules?
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I think BasicMed = 3rd class for the purposes of the Light Sport/MOSAIC discussion, although BasicMed restrictions still apply.

Honestly with this expansion of LSA limitations, it may be time to review 3rd Class/BasicMed/Driver's License medicals, because there is a lot more overlap and confusion. Maybe eliminate one?
 
Half Fast said:
Interesting that the table in 61.303 (p. 676) differentiates between pilots holding a medical and pilots only having a driver's license, but makes no mention at all of Basic Med. Does a pilot with Basic Med revert to the driver's license rules?
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The preceding page states medical certificate as described in 14 CFR 61.2.

(5) Exercise privileges of a medical certificate issued under part 67 to meet any requirements of part 61 if the medical certificate is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired according to the duration standards set forth in § 61.23(d).

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov www.ecfr.gov

BasicMed is 14 CFR Part 68, so I assume it’s not inclusive of BasicMed. Q2(ii) seems to be the applicable answer.
 
DaleB said:
None of this means anything to you if you're under Basic Med, since you're not flying with Sport Pilot privileges and can already fly anything that qualifies as LSA.
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It doesn't mean anything if you have a medical, either. It just seems strange that they specifically include pilots with medicals but not those with Basic.
 
TCABM said:
The preceding page states medical certificate as described in 14 CFR 61.2.

(5) Exercise privileges of a medical certificate issued under part 67 to meet any requirements of part 61 if the medical certificate is surrendered, suspended, revoked or expired according to the duration standards set forth in § 61.23(d).

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.ecfr.gov www.ecfr.gov

BasicMed is 14 CFR Part 68, so I assume it’s not inclusive of BasicMed. Q2(ii) seems to be the applicable answer.
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I think you're correct, so Basic is the same as DL under this rule.
 
Half Fast said:
It doesn't mean anything if you have a medical, either. It just seems strange that they specifically include pilots with medicals but not those with Basic.
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Because there will be (and are, I'm sure) some pilots with Sport Pilot certificates and medicals. Under the new rules, they would be allowed to fly at night.

I *think* the "meat" of that part is that if you're exercising SP privileges you have to follow SP rules, even if you have a higher certificate ("but you must comply with the limitations in § 61.315"). I have a PP-ASEL cert but no medical, so I have to comply with SP rules, but don't need any of the funky little endorsements a SP would need for things like flying into a C/B airport or whatever else.
 
This is HUGE!!! Personally it's everything I hoped! Also LSRM-A's will be able to perform Condition Inspections on EAB aircraft! Huge!
 
DaleB said:
Because there will be (and are, I'm sure) some pilots with Sport Pilot certificates and medicals. Under the new rules, they would be allowed to fly at night.

I *think* the "meat" of that part is that if you're exercising SP privileges you have to follow SP rules, even if you have a higher certificate ("but you must comply with the limitations in § 61.315"). I have a PP-ASEL cert but no medical, so I have to comply with SP rules, but don't need any of the funky little endorsements a SP would need for things like flying into a C/B airport or whatever else.
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I think you're right, but it seems strange that a PP with a medical can fly a MOSAIC airplane with VS0<61 knots, but if he doesn't have a medical the plane must have VS1<59 knots. WTH does a medical have to do with stall speed requirements for a pilot with a private certificate?

My baby Beech easily complies with VS0<61 knots, but not with VS1<59 knots, so I'll have to have a medical to fly it under MOSAIC but outside MOSAIC I only need Basic Med.
 
Here's a follow-on question...
"Let me clarify that in this hypothetical case I'm a private pilot with a lapsed BasicMed... can I still carry 3 passengers?"
1753219899221.jpg

1753220266840.jpg
 
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Kiddo's Driver said:
Like flying at night? Then you still need Basic Med or a medical.
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midwestpa24 said:
As long as you aren't planning on putting anyone in the back or flying at night, at least from my interpretation of the new rules.
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I don't like flying at night. Haven't been night current for over a year by now. I guess puppy in the back doesn't count as a "passenger" so should be fine as well. If a third passenger is announced, easy enough to run to the doctor and get a Basic Med quickly I guess. Since I've had my license (summer 2019) I had more than one (human) passenger on exactly two flights. Having said that, Basic Med is not accepted in Canada so I'm sure Sport Pilot isn't either, right? Visiting Canada would therefore still require at least a 3rd class medical.
 
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