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 of what the U.S. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market might become after the FAA's MOSAIC rulemaking, as European "ultralights" currently operate with fewer restrictions on weight, speed, and features.
LSA industry experts suggest that the upcoming MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rewrite could allow sport pilots in the U.S. to operate more capable aircraft, similar to advanced European ultralights like the JMB Aircraft VL3.
The FAA is anticipated to release the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for MOSAIC around EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, driven by a Congressional mandate to update regulations by December 2023 for integrating new aircraft types into the national airspace.

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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).