I have to lean to John's point of view on this. There are SLA aircraft and there are aircraft that can be piloted by Sport Pilots and these terms get blurred. The Ercoupe is a standard airworthiness certificated aircraft that can be piloted by a sport pilot if certain conditions are met. I assume an SLA has an SLA or something certificate but I don't know. I do know that the maintenance procedure are different. The Ercoupe still has to be maintained as a standard airworthiness aircraft, meaning an A&P and IA are needed. An owner of an SLA can go to training to maintain his SLA aircraft. This is one of the things we or at least I thought we would get with this SLA/SP ruling but in the end they said no the Ercoupe is still a standard category aircraft and has to be maintained as such. As Earl from the EAA said, this was about telling the FAA they were trying to get a handle on the ultralight guys while also getting something for us as a by product. With all this mumbo jumbo in the regulations it is no wonder you can't get a straight answer from a FSDO or the same answer from two FSDOs.
Kevin --- In [email protected], "Ed Burkhead" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > John Cooper wrote: > >"THERE ARE NO CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AS A LIGHT > SPORT AIRCRAFT".< > This is in fact true. However, what counts is there are a few certificate > aircraft which ARE eligible to be operated by the holder of a sport pilot > license. > For some reason, the light sport pilot is often confused with the light > sport plane. I for one can tell them apart even in a dark hangar... ;) > > John, > > Please forgive me but I think I'll disagree on the semantics and legal > definition, not on your meaning. > > The beginning of the Sport Pilot rule changes starts with the "definition" > of Light Sport Aircraft. That sets the definition of those words into the > "law" (regulation) of the land. > > Those words are: > > PART 1DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS > Amend §1.1 by adding the following definitions in alphabetical order to > read as follows: > §1.1 General definitions. > * * * * * > Consensus standard means, for the purpose of certificating > light-sport aircraft, an industry-developed consensus standard that applies > to aircraft design, production, and airworthiness. It includes, but is not > limited to, standards for aircraft design and performance, required > equipment, manufacturer quality assurance systems, production > acceptance test procedures, operating instructions, maintenance and > inspection procedures, identification and recording of major repairs and > major alterations, and continued airworthiness. > * * * * * > Light-sport aircraft means an aircraft, other than a helicopter or > powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet > the > following: > (1) A maximum takeoff weight of not more than > (i) 660 pounds (300 kilograms) for lighter-than-air aircraft; > (ii) 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for > operation on water; or > (iii) 1,430 pounds (650 kilograms) for an aircraft intended for > operation on water. > (2) A maximum airspeed in level flight with maximum > continuous power (VH) of not more than 120 knots CAS under standard > atmospheric conditions at sea level. > (3) A maximum never-exceed speed (VNE) of not more than > 120 knots CAS for a glider. > (4) A maximum stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed > without the use of lift-enhancing devices (VS1) of not more than 45 knots > CAS at the aircraft's maximum certificated takeoff weight and most critical > center of gravity. > (5) A maximum seating capacity of no more than two persons, > including the pilot. > (6) A single, reciprocating engine, if powered. > (7) A fixed or ground-adjustable propeller if a powered aircraft > other than a powered glider. > (8) A fixed or autofeathering propeller system if a powered > glider. > (9) A fixed-pitch, semi-rigid, teetering, two-blade rotor system, if > a gyroplane. > (10) A nonpressurized cabin, if equipped with a cabin. > (11) Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for > operation on water or a glider. > (12) Fixed or repositionable landing gear, or a hull, for an > aircraft intended for operation on water. > (13) Fixed or retractable landing gear for a glider. > > So, in fact, I think the FAA wienies were wrong in their statement that > "THERE ARE NOT CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AS LIGHT SPORT > AIRCRAFT" > > True there are none that are eligible as Special Light Sport Aircraft. But, > if the actual airplane meets the definition quoted above, then it is, by > definition, a Light Sport Aircraft. > > Ed >
