First Phase of MOSAIC Arrives, Expands Sport Pilot Privileges

New FAA rule also removes weight limits for LSAs and introduces changes to aviator training and certification.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 02:07 PM ET

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Meg Godlewski

A wide range of light aircraft and the pilots that fly them will be positively affected by the implementation of MOSAIC. [Credit: Leonardo Correa Luna]

Key Takeaways:

The first phase of MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) is live, replacing previous Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) weight limitations with a primary "clean" stall speed of 61 knots calibrated airspeed.
This change significantly broadens the range of aircraft accessible to sport pilots, including many vintage single-engine models (e.g., Cessna 172s), and allows them to operate aircraft with controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear (with additional training/endorsement).
Sport pilots retain the ability to use a U.S. driver's license instead of an FAA medical for daytime flight privileges, and the new rule also facilitates easier certification for new LSA designs through industry standards.

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The first phase of Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) is now live.

In July the new rule was announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with the promise that within 90 days of the date (Wednesday) the vast majority of the single-engine general aviation fleet would be legally accessible to those holding sport pilot certificates. Additional changes to the rules regarding aircraft certification will follow in July 2026.