FAA Finalizes Major Overhaul of Light Sport Aircraft Rules

New MOSAIC regulation expands airplane options and pilot privileges under light sport category.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 02:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces the new MOSAIC change on Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Credit: Ryan Ewing]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's new MOSAIC rule significantly modernizes the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category, replacing weight limits with performance-based criteria to allow for faster, heavier, and more capable designs, including up to four seats, retractable gear, and alternative propulsion.
Sport pilot privileges are vastly expanded, enabling pilots with proper training to fly at night, operate more complex aircraft (like helicopters and powered-lift), and utilize advanced systems.
For the first time, the MOSAIC rule permits limited commercial activities for LSAs, such as infrastructure inspection, aerial photography, and agricultural observation.

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The FAA has finalized its long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, implementing broad changes to the light sport aircraft (LSA) category and sport pilot privileges.

Signed on July 18 and unveiled at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the rule marks the most sweeping update to this segment of general aviation since 2004, the agency said.