Europe Air Sports Info
r.schuegraf@europe-air-sports.org
12.02.2009
Factory-Built Sport Aircraft Debut... Two S-LSAs Certified
"This is a day I sometimes thought would never come," EAA President Tom Poberezny said on Friday, under the Florida sun here in Lakeland. Together with a ream of manufacturers, FAA officials, and John and Martha King, Poberezny introduced the first two aircraft to receive their Special-Light Sport Aircraft certification -- the Evektor SportStar and the Flight Design CT. And he said that EAA is working to ensure there will be affordable insurance available for pilots eager to buy and fly. "The goal here is to break down the barriers to getting into flying," Poberezny said. Getting these airplanes approved is only one step along that road, but it's a major one that was a long time coming. The effort to create the new Light Sport Aircraft category took about 10 years. EAA's Sport Pilot Tour this summer will introduce the aircraft to people around the country. The SportStar is imported from the Czech Republic by Sport Aircraft International in Kerrville, Texas, and the Flight Design CT is imported from Germany by FlightStar Sportplanes in Ellington, Conn.
FAA Streamlines "Special" Medicals
The FAA recently expanded its special issuance program for pilots with medical problems; now the program includes First- and Second-Class medical certificates as well as Third-Class medicals. The change promises to streamline the FAA's approval process for pilots who require the higher certificates. Senior FAA Aviation Medical Examiner Brent Blue, M.D., explains all. By Brent Blue, M.D. Senior FAA Aviation Medical Examiner
After a tremendously successful Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) program for Third-Class medical certificates, the FAA's chief physician, Federal Air Surgeon Jon Jordan, M.D., recently decided to expand the program to include Second- and First-Class medicals. This is great news, both for AMEs who have spent a Aeromedical lot of time with their patients ensuring the correct paperwork gets filed and for the pilots themselves. The expansion to the AASI program became effective September 7, 2004, but its announcement was only in the quarterly Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin mailed to AMEs at the end of November. The announcement means that approvals for airmen who require the more stringent medical certificates won't be unnecessarily delayed.
More to read: FAA Streamlines "Special" Medicals
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Europe Air Sports Info
r.schuegraf@europe-air-sports.org
12.02.2009
Medical Certificate vs. Driver's License
The current medical certification process presents little problem to the young, the fortunate, and those who "don't tell the FAA anything they don't need to know." Mr. Jones (AVmail, Apr. 11) apparently did not read the AOPA petition that showed glider and balloon pilots -- who do not require FAA medical certification -- do not have a higher rate of medical problems causing accidents than private pilots. For small-plane pilots there is an alternative to the current hopelessly overloaded and dysfunctional system. That alternative is the DOT "medical card" required for truck drivers. The DOT standards for drivers hauling explosives, fuel trucks, and other hazardous vehicles are quite sufficient for small airplane pilots. The DOT system is administered by local physicians. The requirement to keep the nation's goods moving keeps it operating properly. If a more rational system is not adopted, it may be the result of an agenda to keep pilots from clogging the air except for those in the airline food chain. Chuck Forsberg
(Avweb 18.04.2005)
ROTAX DECLARES FOUR-STROKE ENGINES ASTM-COMPLIANT
April 5, 2005 - BRP Rotax GmbH has issued a declaration of compliance for its 912 and 914 series engines, stating that its four-stroke engines meet ASTM Standard 2339-04 for engine design and manufacture. That makes Rotax the first manufacturer to publicly declare compliance to the ASTM engine standard. Rotax engines are one of the more common engines used in many ultralights and light-sport aircraft ... (read more) ( EAA 19.04.2005)
Europe Air Sports
General Meeting
Submitted by SG on Thu, 10/03/2005 - 13:56.
meetings
The General Meeting of Europe Air Sports will be held in Friedrichshafen on 23 April 2005 from 917 h, concurrently with the Aero Exhibition on the airport. The meeting will be hosted by the Messe Friedrichshafen and the German Aero Club. The agenda will be available end of March. All Europe Air Sports members (National Aero Clubs and European Air Sports organizations) and officers involved have been invited to discuss the important issues regarding air sports regulatory matters and organizational developments.
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Europe Air Sports Info
r.schuegraf@europe-air-sports.org
12.02.2009
Basic Parameters of the Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft Rule
This is a synopsis of the definition of a light-sport aircraft category, the requirements to obtain a sport pilot certificate, and requirements to obtain a repairman certificate with a maintenance or inspection rating. For more complete details, see EAA's final analysis of the rule. Light-Sport Aircraft: o o o o o o o o o o Maximum gross takeoff weight-1,320 lbs (599 kg.), 1,430 lbs for seaplanes. Lighter-than-air light-sport aircraft maximum gross weight-660 lbs (300 kg.) Maximum stall speed-51 mph (45 knots) Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)-138 mph (120 knots) Two-place maximum (pilot and one passenger) Single, non-turbine engine only, includes rotary or diesel engines Fixed or ground adjustable propeller Unpressurized cabin Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport aircraft certification without FAR Part 23 compliance. Aircraft must meet consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if it was kit- or plans-built and operated as an ultralight trainers. Aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008. Will have FAA registration-N-number. Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control (Trike Land/Sea), and Powered Parachute. U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized. Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, that airworthiness certification category will not be changed to a light-sport aircraft. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft. May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.209 and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.
o o o o o o
o
The Sport Pilot Rule: A sport pilot may exercise flight privileges in one or more of the following aircraft categories: o o o o o o Airplane (single-engine only) Glider Lighter-than-air (airship or balloon) Rotorcraft (gyroplane only) Powered Parachute Weight-Shift control aircraft(e.g. Trikes)
The sport pilot rule: o o o o o Creates a new student sport pilot certificate for operating any aircraft that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft. Creates a new sport pilot flight instructor certificate. Requires FAA knowledge (written) and practical (flight) test. Credits ultralight training and experience toward a sport pilot certificate. Credits sport pilot flight time toward more advanced pilot ratings. page 3
Europe Air Sports Info
r.schuegraf@europe-air-sports.org
12.02.2009
o o o o o
Requires either a 3rd class FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver's license as evidence of medical eligibility (provided the individual does not have an official denial or revocation of medical eligibility on file with FAA). Does not allow carrying passengers for compensation or hire Allows sharing ("pro-rata") operating expenses with another pilot. Allows daylight (civil twilight) flight only. Allow sport pilots to fly vintage and production aircraft (standard airworthiness certificate) that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
Sport Pilot Flight Instructors: The new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule: o o o o Creates new sport pilot flight and ground instructor certificates. Allows instructors to use ultralight exemption experience. Allows conversion to sport pilot instructor status for ultralight instructors. Allows current CFI's to train sport pilots.
Repairmen Certificates The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule creates two new Light-Sport Repairmen certificate-with either a maintenance or inspection rating. To earn an FAA repairman certificate of any type, you must be: o o o o o At least 18 years old Speak, read, and understand English Demonstrate the requisite skill to determine whether an E-LSA or S-LSA is in a condition for safe operation U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a Inspection rating-complete a 16 hour course on the inspection requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft; for a Maintenance rating-complete a course - 120 hours (airplane category); 104 hours (weight shift or powered parachute); 80 hours (glider or lighter-than-air) -- on the maintenance requirements of the particular class of light-sport aircraft.
Other LSA Maintenance Options The annual condition inspection on special light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft--can be completed by: o o o An appropriately rated mechanic-that is, A&P An appropriately rated repair station; or A light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating.
Preventive maintenance can be performed by a certificated pilot (Sport Pilot rating or higher) The annual condition inspection on experimental light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft-can be completed by: o o o o An appropriately rated mechanic-that is, A&P An appropriately rated repair station; or A light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating; or A light-sport repairman with a inspection rating (only on your own aircraft).
No rating is required to perform maintenance on experimental light-sport airworthiness certificated aircraft. The rule, in its entirety, is available in PDF format (452 pages, 950K).
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