MOSAIC redefines Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) by stall speed (up to 61 knots) instead of previous weight and speed limits, expanding the range of aircraft, including some traditional single-engine planes, that sport pilots can fly, potentially at speeds up to 250 knots.
Sport pilot privileges are significantly expanded to include flying more complex aircraft (e.g., retractable landing gear, night flight) with additional training and endorsements, though they remain limited to carrying one passenger.
The rule is anticipated to boost interest in sport pilot training, encourage new LSA aircraft designs, and permit LSAs to be used for commercial operations (e.g., aerial survey, glider towing) for the first time.
Since the rule was announced, aviation groups such as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) have been inundated with queries about what MOSAIC means to the flying community.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![MOSAIC defines light sport aircraft by stall speed, not gross weight, making it possible for legacy single-engine trainers like the Cessna 150 to be flown by sport pilots. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FLY1125_2.3-FEAT4-MOSAIC-1.jpeg)
