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 AERO22 trade show in Germany offers a preview for the future of the U.S. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market post-MOSAIC, as European "ultralight" regulations already permit more advanced and capable aircraft than current U.S. LSA rules.
Aircraft like the JMB VL3 exemplify these differences, with its European configuration offering higher performance (e.g., 200 ktas, retractable gear) that could potentially become available for U.S. sport pilots after MOSAIC.
Industry experts anticipate the FAA will release the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for its MOSAIC rewrite at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, a crucial step towards modernizing LSA regulations to meet a Congressional deadline.

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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).