I think you are absolutely correct. There was a fellow that got a STC to change a Cessna 150 to 1320 lbs. when the proposed rule making came out.
My understanding this is the case that made the FAA put in the wording "has since original certification" The EAA higher ups did not want the 150 specifically converted back to the LSA category because it would have killed the market for brand new LSAs. Bill To: [email protected]; [email protected] From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:45:51 -0400 Subject: RE: SPAM-LOW: [ercoupe-tech] legal LSA The rules in this area are the way they are for a fairly good reason. FAA didn't want to see a bunch of STCs emerge to lower the gross weight of several aircraft that are slightly over 1320, down to 1320 so they would qualify as LSA. Such airplanes as the Cessna 120/140, later Champs, earlier Citabrias, later Luscombes, etc. are all candidates for LSA if their gross could be lowered by just a little built via the STC route. Again, we can't lose sight of the reasons behind the LSA in the first place - LSA wasn't concocted just so pilots without medicals could continue to fly old classic airplanes. Mainly, the reasons behind the LSA movement were: 1. Give the FAA some control over what had become the "heavy ultralight" airplanes, getting their pilots licensed and the aircraft inspected and licensed; and 2. To spurn new manufacturing and sales of a new "class" of aircraft. Jerry E. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of G. Davis Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:21 AM To: [email protected] Subject: SPAM-LOW: [ercoupe-tech] legal LSA The rules are very clear today; the plane must have met ALL LSA standards since its certification. If at any point it has been altered so it does not meet LSA standards, it can NEVER go back and be "made into an LSA". I do look forward to the progress made on FAA changes/clarification of the language though. Personally, I think a D model could be a C so very easy, without changing the plane. Same plane, just a different gross wt. Makes perfect sense to me, maybe that is why the FAA doesnt see it that way*L Gary _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®: Search, add, and share the web’s latest sports videos. Check it out. http://www.windowslive.com/Online/Hotmail/Campaign/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_QA_HM_sports_videos_072009&cat=sports
