Light Sport Aircraft

In order to be allowed to sell ELSAs of the same type, a business must have manufactured and certificated at least one S-LSA. ELSA kit are not covered by the standard AT design 14 CFR 21. 191 [5], which identified an aeroplane whose'major part was manufactured and mounted by personnel who carried out the design exclusively for their own training or leisure.

May be produced and marketed under a new light aircraft specific certificate class. Aeroplanes must comply with industrial consensual norms. Aeroplanes with this certificate can be used for sport and leisure, flying education and aircraft hire. Licenced as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit or plan is made. Aeroplanes with this certificate may only be used for sport and leisure and flying lessons for the aircraft operator.

Where the aeroplane was previously used as an ultra-light aeroplane but does not comply with the FAR Part 103 micro-light aeroplane definitions, it may be used. Those aeroplanes shall have been transferred to the E-LSA aircraft class by 31 January 2008 at the latest. The US or overseas production of light sports aircraft is approved.

Aeroplanes with a certification of conformity to the above mentioned specification may be used by recreational aircraft. The aeroplane must, however, stay in the default configuration and cannot be converted to the light recreational aeroplane configuration. Permitted to operate at nights if the aircraft is fitted out in accordance with FAR 91.205, if this is permitted by the aircraft operational restrictions and if the driver has at least one private pilot's licence and at least one third-class doctor.

Multiple aircraft types can be certified as LSA. Aircraft (both motorised and glider), rotary wing aircraft (helicopters only, not helicopters), power driven chutes, aircraft with aircraft shifting weights (commonly known as trikes) and light aircraft (free air balloons as well as airships) can all be certified as LSAs if they comply with the weights and other regulations laid down by the locality authorities.

An LSA's US delineation is similar to that of some other jurisdictions for "microlight aircraft" or "microlight aircraft". The US FAA, on the other hand, has its own definitions of ultra-light aircraft, which are laid down in the Federal Aviation Regulations. Aeroplanes covered by US ultra-light specification are ultra-light (less than 254 lbs when propelled or 155 lbs when not propelled), are designed for crewed operations by a sole passenger, have a refueling capability of five US galloons (about 19 litres) or less, a max calibration airspeed of not more than 55 kn (102 km/h) and a max stall overspeed of not more than 24 kn (44 km/h).

Ultra-light aircraft in the USA do not need a pilots license, health care or aircraft registry. Light aircraft registered aircraft go beyond the limits set for microlight aircraft and demand that the pilots have at least a sport aircraft pass. These aircraft included those specifically adapted to LSA specifications and obese ultra-light aircraft (commonly known as "Fat Ultralights") previously operating in breach of 14 CFR 103.

As well as aircraft specifically developed to comply with LSA standards, certain certified aircraft, such as the Piper Cub, come under the light aircraft category and can be used by persons with FAA sport pilot licences. However, the aircraft cannot be recertified as an LSA: although sport pilot can fly conventional certified aircraft that come under the LSA definitions, the aircraft themselves remain certified in their initial category.

A few other S-LSA, E-LSA and E-AB aircraft types that comply with lightweight design specifications are cited.

In June 2011, the European Aviation Safety Agency CS-LSA issued certification specifications for light sports aircraft. Thus, a new class of sport aircraft has been launched, similar to the light sport class in the USA and other countries. Max take-off weights of 600 kg (1,323 lb) or 650 kg (1,433 lb) for an aircraft designed and engineered to operate on sea, or 560 kg (1,235 lb) for a light aircraft.

Light aircraft may be factory-made aircraft or construction sets for non-professional construction. "Light Sports Aircraft." Aviation & Leisure Aircraft. "Light Sports Aircraft." Association of Experimental Aircraft. "Sportpilot Frequently Asked Questions". Association of aircraft owners and pilots. "Association of Light Aircraft Manufacturers". "Lightsy sports airplanes." Light Aviation searchable database. Light planes.