Aero Friedrichshafen 2022: A Preview of LSA after MOSAIC?

‘Ultralights’ in the European Union hint at what light sport aircraft can be in the U.S.

Friday, April 15, 2022 at 08:18 AM ET

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The show floor at Aero Friedrichshafen always has plenty of “ultralights” and sailplanes. [Courtesy: Aero Friedrichshafen]

Key Takeaways:

The European "ultralight" aircraft market, showcased at AERO22, offers a strong preview of what the U.S. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market could become after the FAA's upcoming MOSAIC rulemaking.
EU ultralights currently feature fewer restrictions than U.S. LSAs, allowing for higher maximum takeoff weights, faster speeds, advanced features like retractable gear, and commercial applications, as demonstrated by the JMB VL3.
The FAA is expected to release the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for MOSAIC at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, driven by a congressional mandate to update aviation regulations by December 31, 2023.

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We all know that looking into the future is only possible in sci-fi movies. Even the finest crystal ball will not be able to say with any degree of accuracy what the light sport aircraft (LSA) market will look like in the U.S. after the FAA releases its final version of the upcoming MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rulemaking effort.

There is, however, a way to take a pretty good look at what LSAs might become once MOSAIC is etched in stone. You’ll need to travel to Friedrichshafen, Germany, and attend the upcoming 2022 Aero Friedrichshafen trade show (AERO22), known affectionately as “AERO”—much like EAA’s AirVenture is referred to by many simply as “Oshkosh.” This year’s AERO22 show is April 27-30 at the Messe Friedrichshafen convention complex, adjacent to Bodensee Airport (EDNY).