Light sport rules expand dramatically

Aircraft with maximum speeds of 250 knots calibrated airspeed, retractable gear, and constant-speed propellers will now qualify as light sport aircraft under the highly anticipated Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC), which dramatically expands the LSA category and sport pilot privileges. Aircraft with flaps-down stall speeds up to 61 KCAS will be able to be certified as LSAs, and pilots will be able to operate aircraft with clean stall speeds of up to 59 KCAS under sport pilot privileges. AOPA advocated for many of the expansions in the final rule.

“MOSAIC reflects the extraordinary vision and technological innovation of small aircraft manufacturers across the country,” said AOPA President Darren Pleasance. “By expanding the kinds of aircraft sport pilots can fly—including many popular four-seat legacy aircraft—and by simplifying certification pathways, we are opening the door for more people to experience the freedom and joy of aviation.”

MOSAIC overhauls the rules governing aircraft with special airworthiness certificates, most notably LSAs. The rule affects three major areas: pilots, aircraft, and maintenance. It will allow pilots to fly faster, four-seat airplanes under sport pilot privileges, removing the 1,320-pound maximum takeoff weight limit and raising the maximum level flight speed from 120 KCAS to 250 KCAS. Sport pilots will be able to fly aircraft with retractable landing gear or manual controllable pitch propellers with additional training and endorsements; night operations will require additional training and endorsements, as well as BasicMed or a third class medical. The rule also opens up the light sport category to helicopters and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Changes for sport pilots and light sport repairmen take effect 90 days after the publication of the final rule, with changes for LSA certification following a year after the publication. The FAA posted an advance copy of the rule, subject to revision before it is published in the Federal Register. AOPA and hundreds of other industry stakeholders have been hashing out standards for aircraft certification in an ASTM committee.

AOPA pushed for this expansion of sport pilot privileges and the light sport category, which could help new, modern aircraft enter the U.S. market and make a range of popular GA aircraft accessible to sport pilots. In its comments on the 2023 proposal, AOPA advocated for further changes including the higher stall speed.

“This rule reflects years of hard work and persistence from AOPA and our industry partners to move general aviation forward into the next generation of flying,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “This is an amazing opportunity for existing and future aviators. It’s a great time to be in aviation.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau announced the publication of the final rule at a press conference with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.). Graves, an active pilot, championed the GA title in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which set a two-year deadline for the release of the MOSAIC rule; he said the FAA beat the deadline by nine months.