
Home Sport Pilot Shop Eligibility Requirements for Sport Pilot Medical Requirements for Sport Pilot Sport Pilot Privileges and Limitations Light Sport Aircraft Definition of LSA S-LSA / E-LSA Categories, Classes, and Sets Vintage Aircraft and Sport Pilots Production LSA Find a Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Links Training Materials	What is a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), Anyway? A Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) may look a lot like what most people envision when they think of an "airplane," or it can look like something very different. The Consensus Standards In general, LSA designs conform to the ASTM International’s F-37 Light-Sport Aircraft Committee Consensus Standards, which were accepted by FAA in 2005. The origins of the Consensus Standards actually go back to the 1990's and the ultralight movement, but until recently they had little official meaning in the United States. FAA Definition The FAA defines a Light Sport Aircraft as an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following: Maximum gross takeoff weight—1,320 lbs, or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes. Lighter-than-air maximum gross weight—660 lbs (300 kg.) Maximum stall speed—51 mph (45 knots) Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)—138 mph (120 knots) Single or two-seat aircraft only Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel engines Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller Unpressurized cabin Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport aircraft certification category. Aircraft must meet industry consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft. Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if the aircraft has previously been operated as an ultralight but does not meet the FAR Part 103 definition of an ultralight vehicle. These aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008. Will have FAA registration—N-number. Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control ("Trike" Land/Sea), and Powered Parachute. U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized. Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light-sport aircraft category. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft. May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.205, if such operations are allowed by the aircraft's operating limitations and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical. More information can be found here. Huh? Okay, those are the official rules. But for the sake of people who just want a simple explanation, let's summarize the above in admittedly oversimplified, layman's terms. A Light Sport Aircraft is a registered aircraft that is not a powered lift or a true helicopter, is light in weight, has a simple design, can carry only one or two people (including the pilot), and is limited in horsepower (if powered) and speed. It is heavier than an ultralight, but lighter than most standard category small aircraft. An LSA may be designed and built as such by an aircraft manufacturer and certificated as a Special Light Sport Aircraft, or it can be assembled or built by an amateur and certificated as an Experimental LSA. More information about these aircraft can be found here. In addition, ultralights that never quite met the weight standards of FAR Part 103 (lovingly called "fat ultralights") can also be registered as Experimental LSA. In either of these cases, there will be certain restrictions on their use. A Standard Category aircraft that happens to meet the definition of an LSA but was not specifically designed as an LSA may be flown by Sport Pilots, but the aircraft itself remains a Standard Category aircraft.

Light Sport Aircraft

What is a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), Anyway?

A Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) may look a lot like what most people envision when they think of an "airplane," or it can look like something very different.

The Consensus Standards

In general, LSA designs conform to the ASTM International’s F-37 Light-Sport Aircraft Committee Consensus Standards, which were accepted by FAA in 2005. The origins of the Consensus Standards actually go back to the 1990's and the ultralight movement, but until recently they had little official meaning in the United States.

FAA Definition

The FAA defines a Light Sport Aircraft as an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:

Maximum gross takeoff weight—1,320 lbs, or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes.
Lighter-than-air maximum gross weight—660 lbs (300 kg.)
Maximum stall speed—51 mph (45 knots)
Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)—138 mph (120 knots)
Single or two-seat aircraft only
Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel engines
Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
Unpressurized cabin
Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider
Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport aircraft certification category. Aircraft must meet industry consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if the aircraft has previously been operated as an ultralight but does not meet the FAR Part 103 definition of an ultralight vehicle. These aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008.
Will have FAA registration—N-number.
Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control ("Trike" Land/Sea), and Powered Parachute.
U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light-sport aircraft category. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.205, if such operations are allowed by the aircraft's operating limitations and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.

More information can be found here.

Huh?

Okay, those are the official rules. But for the sake of people who just want a simple explanation, let's summarize the above in admittedly oversimplified, layman's terms.

A Light Sport Aircraft is a registered aircraft that is not a powered lift or a true helicopter, is light in weight, has a simple design, can carry only one or two people (including the pilot), and is limited in horsepower (if powered) and speed. It is heavier than an ultralight, but lighter than most standard category small aircraft.

An LSA may be designed and built as such by an aircraft manufacturer and certificated as a Special Light Sport Aircraft, or it can be assembled or built by an amateur and certificated as an Experimental LSA. More information about these aircraft can be found here.

In addition, ultralights that never quite met the weight standards of FAR Part 103 (lovingly called "fat ultralights") can also be registered as Experimental LSA. In either of these cases, there will be certain restrictions on their use.

A Standard Category aircraft that happens to meet the definition of an LSA but was not specifically designed as an LSA may be flown by Sport Pilots, but the aircraft itself remains a Standard Category aircraft.