An increase in the weight limit for LSAs from 1,320 pounds to more than 3,000 could be coming before the end of 2019 or in 2020 according to news published by both the EAA and AOPA. Should that weight limit become a permanent part of the LSA guidelines along with a number of expanded pilot privileges, a sport pilot certificate holder might be able to fly an aircraft that weighs considerably more than the current legal weight limit. But the intricacies of a weight change are just one possibility under the FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates rulemaking efforts rolled out by the agency during AirVenture 2018.
LSA Weight Limits Could Change as Part of a New NPRM
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA is proposing to significantly increase the weight limit for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) from 1,320 pounds to over 3,000 pounds, possibly by late 2019 or 2020.
- This change is part of the FAA's Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC) rulemaking, aiming to offer expanded pilot privileges and greater flexibility for kit aircraft construction.
- The proposed rulemaking may also include adding electric aircraft to the LSA category, but sport pilot eligibility for heavier aircraft would depend on additional factors like stall speed, complexity, and cruise speed, not just weight.
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