Colin wrote: ".....The FAA commentary that I read specifically mentioned that they are watching for aircraft that have previously been certified in other categories to be modified into LSA, and will aggressively prevent this......"
Colin, This rule refers to individual aircraft that were originally certified or were modified to be too heavy, too fast, etc. to fit in the Sport Pilot eligible category and then modified to fit. It does not refer to new aircraft that are modified from the original design to fit Sport Pilot at the time of their certification. An amateur built aircraft is certified as an Experimental and does not have to go through the extensive FAA paperwork of an E-LSA or LSA. If your aircraft's numbers that you observe and record during your test phase meet the standards for Sport Pilot eligibility, a Sport Pilot can fly the plane legally. Dick H. "....The purpose of the category is not to give alternatives, but to regulate those aircraft that already fit the category and previously were not regulated......." That statement refers to "heavy ultralights" and other ultralights that the owner chooses to change to Experimental or LSA so they may be flown and time logged by a Sport Pilot. The category is for any plane--factory built, plans built, kit built-- that has always been within specifications for the category since the time of its certification. Dick Hartwig Waunakee, WI [email protected]
