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 Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) proposal redefines Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) primarily by a 54-knot clean stall speed rather than a weight limit, potentially allowing for larger aircraft, though the process for existing LSA or modified legacy aircraft to leverage these changes is still being clarified.
While MOSAIC expands aircraft capabilities, Sport Pilot privileges generally remain limited to one passenger and require endorsements for new features like retractable gear. A significant point of contention is the FAA's continued requirement for medical certificates for certain operations (e.g., night flight, IFR), despite the successful track record of sport pilots using a driver's license medical.
Concerns remain regarding the NPRM's impact on maintenance credentialing (LSRM), perceived discrimination against certain aircraft types (e.g., powered parachutes for aerial work), and a lack of clear pilot qualification guidelines for expanded capabilities such as multi-engine aircraft. The article strongly encourages pilots to submit their comments to the FAA on these and other issues before the rule is finalized.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.