More Training Aircraft in Reach with FAA's Proposed MOSAIC Rule

If the NPRM transitions to an official rule, several of the aircraft that currently make up the training fleet could be legally flown with a sport pilot certificate.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 04:17 PM ET

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If the MOSAIC NPRM transitions to an official rule, several of the aircraft that currently make up the training fleet, such as the Cessna 150, could be legally flown with a sport pilot certificate. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's proposed MOSAIC rule aims to modernize light sport aircraft (LSA) regulations, addressing the limited adoption of the 2004 sport pilot rule.
This proposal would significantly increase the LSA weight limit (from 1,320 to potentially 3,000 pounds based on stall speed), bringing many common training aircraft into the sport pilot category.
The changes are expected to make LSA operations safer, more versatile, and accessible, potentially boosting flight school revenue and increasing the number of available flight instructors.
Industry groups like SAFE support the proposal, seeing it as a way to expand access to modern, safe aircraft and empowering flight instructors.

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When the sport pilot rule was released in 2004, it was touted as a way to make aviation more affordable, starting with lower training costs because the sport pilot certificate can be acquired with a minimum of 20 hours of flight time—half of what is required for the private pilot certificate.

The 2004 rule also didn’t require the additional cost of an aviation medical certificate, which might encourage more people to seek training to earn their certificates. Whether or not it went that way is in the eye of the beholder.