MOSAIC Questions Linger in Light Sport Aircraft Community

Many pilots have questions about the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification proposed rulemaking underway at the FAA. Here are some answers.

Dan Johnson

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 01:37 PM ET

Verified

The long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC) boasts the potential to revolutionize the LSA market, bringing about a significant increase in their usefulness and creating new opportunities for sport pilots. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The MOSAIC proposal redefines Light Sport Aircraft eligibility based on a 54-knot clean stall speed, rather than weight, allowing for larger and more capable aircraft.
Sport pilots will gain access to more advanced aircraft with appropriate endorsements but remain limited to one passenger and generally require a medical for night or IFR flight, with the night medical requirement being a debated point.
Challenges remain regarding the practical application of MOSAIC, including converting existing certified aircraft, establishing clear pilot qualifications for new multi-engine configurations, and potential new restrictions on maintenance certifications.
The article strongly encourages pilots to actively submit comments to the FAA on the proposed rule to address concerns and contribute to its finalization.

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Plane & Pilot.

I don’t know about you, but I can guess that Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) fatigue is setting into a lot of quarters. Some pilots have done an extraordinary job of digging into the FAA’s 318-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) document to distill essential parts that need to be addressed. Many pilots get exhausted just looking at the NPRM.