The sport pilot and light-sport aircraft rule, envisioned and championed by EAA and others when it became effective in 2004, laid the groundwork for MOSAIC and a potential game-changing evolution in recreational aviation. The latest evolution with MOSAIC, best described as “Sport Pilot (SP)/Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) 2.0”, paves the way for the next generation of recreational aviation and the opportunities it brings to those currently participating.

The original sport pilot/LSA category, although a successful step, had limitations with gross weight and the resulting availability of aircraft that were preventing it from reaching its full potential. After 20 years of EAA advocacy work towards the continued development of LSA, MOSAIC is now ready to redefine and expand the LSA category.

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What Is SP/LSA 2.0 (MOSAIC)?

MOSAIC’s proposed rulemaking expands the utility of light-sport aircraft and opportunities for sport pilots. This proposal would:

• Expand the light-sport aircraft (LSA) category by including aircraft with increased utility (weight, systems, structure, etc.)
• Increase the privileges of sport pilots by allowing for training and endorsements in more light-sport aircraft
• Update the Light-Sport Repairman Maintenance rating

What would SP/LSA 2.0 (MOSAIC) do for you?

• New or future pilots

  For new or future pilots, SP/LSA 2.0 lowers the barriers for participation in recreational aviation. Simply put, learning to fly for half the cost, in half the time, and all the fun becomes more widely accessible.

  Make flying simpler and easier to start AND finish: Sport pilot certificates can be obtained more quickly than private pilot certificates. Those expanded opportunities for sport pilots to complete their training make it a more streamlined entry point for those wanting to learn how to fly.

  • SP/LSA 2.0 will halve the number of hours it takes to achieve a pilot’s certificate, thus reducing the cost and initial investment
  • The steppingstone approach of allowing for additional privileges after obtaining a sport pilot certificate (through endorsements) reduces the initial length of training

  Lower the cost to achieve your dream to fly - Expands the choices of lower-cost training, flight schools, and rental aircraft.

  Increase accessibility of the aviation lifestyle – Proposed changes to the light-sport category significantly expands the number of aircraft that meet the sport pilot definition, increasing the utility, safety, and availability of aircraft. This helps grow recreational aviation and creates more opportunities in aviation.

  • Quickest and least complicated way to earn a pilot’s certificate for those seeking to fly for recreation or personal transportation
  • Broader availability of aircraft with more utility for sport pilots
  • Eliminate the expense, uncertainty, and time of getting a medical certificate
  • A pilot certificate is good for life –come back to flying at any time with a simple checkout by an instructor

• Current private pilot

  As a current private pilot, SP/LSA 2.0 makes it more attractive to access the privileges of a now more robust sport pilot certificate.

  Fly many existing airplanes instantly (when implemented) with a driver’s license as your medical - Under the MOSAIC proposal, the LSA definition would be expanded to four seats and a “clean” stall speed (VS1) of 54 knots calibrated and a maximum level flight speed (VH) of 250 knots calibrated. A specific weight would not be part of a regulatory definition. This results in more aircraft being classified as LSA and available to fly as a sport pilot.

  • Avoid the uncertainty, hassle, and potential expense of dealing with the current medical processes (including a 1-time special issuance for BasicMed) with the simplicity of using a driver’s license as your medical certificate.
  • SP now means more choice of aircraft including the most popular existing models – allow you to continue to fly.to fly the aircraft of your choice as a sport pilot
  • The process to switch to SP privileges is simple. You don’t have to do anything. You can exercise sport pilot privileges under your existing pilot’s certificate immediately, without any paperwork or checkrides. Simply familiarize yourself with sport pilot privileges and fly accordingly.
  • Expands the potential for new aircraft entering the market, and expands the options of various categories providing more choices and greater flexibility to aircraft owners (i.e. E-LSA) including ready to fly and almost ready to fly aircraft.

• Current sport pilot

  SP/LSA 2.0 brings exciting new and expanded opportunities for those who are current sport pilots.

  Expand choice of existing and new aircraft to fly - No more 1,320-pound weight limit for LSA, providing access to a wider range of aircraft for sport pilot flying, including the Cessna 150, 152, 172 and some 182s, as well as many models of legacy Piper aircraft.

  • Expands the potential for new aircraft entering the market, and expands the options of various categories providing more choices and greater flexibility to aircraft owners (i.e. E-LSA) including ready to fly and almost ready to fly aircraft
  • Provides an easier transition and more standardization between training aircraft, rental aircraft, and potential ownership
  • Availability of more SP eligible rental aircraft at local flight schools/FBOs

  Extend pilot privileges to activities such as night flying – Sport pilots would be permitted to fly at night with the proper endorsements. The current FAA proposal limits this to sport pilots holding a third-class medical certificate or BasicMed, but EAA submitted in its comments a way to provide alternate means to verify night vision minimums for sport pilots to earn their night-flying endorsements.

  Operate higher performing and more capable aircraft - With proper endorsements, sport pilots would be able to fly aircraft with retractable landing gear and constant-speed propellers, thus providing more utility and expanded options for personal transportation.

• CFI or flight school

  Changes to SP/LSA 2.0 provides a significant, positive shift in the flight training universe by paving the way for more affordable training options, new engagement opportunities, and long-term customer relationships, positively impacting flight schools and CFIs.

  Enhance your current fleet’s utility with more attractive flight training options - Changing the limitations of LSAs from an arbitrary weight to performance-based metrics would allow for larger and more capable aircraft. That permits a wider range of students and instructors to fly them, significantly increasing access to flight training. This would afford give flight schools more opportunities to increase utilization of their existing aircraft and refresh their fleets by making larger and more durable LSAs a viable option for training operations.

  • There’s no new investment needed – flight schools can use their existing aircraft
  • Avoid the 80% dropout rate experienced by most flight schools today – fewer required hours means a higher completion rate, and more overall revenue
  • S-LSA and E-LSA provide exciting new opportunities for training, rental, and aircraft sales

  Increase student completion rate, equating to more ongoing business – With more flight training aircraft available, the opportunities flight schools have within their sport pilot training operations can grow. A more robust sport pilot program utilizing existing and new fleets of aircraft, as well as more flight instructors can increase the overall number of students and completion rates, leading to a more successful business!

  • Stepping stone to other certificates
  • New price point expands the market
  • Current fleet immediately available
  • Creates a clear path for those looking to fly for recreation
  • Develops a long-term customer that will stay in your market

  Develop and utilize more CFIs (Sport Pilot CFIs) – SP/LSA 2.0 creates a path for experienced private pilots and sport pilots to become sport pilot instructors, providing FBOs with additional revenue streams and additional instructor resources that can provide a long-term instructor base to supplement traditional CFIs.

  • SP CFIs are purely recreational certificates
  • SP CFIs are a more stable workforce and have more experience
  • Opportunity to grow CFI base
  • Retention – not part of the airline career path
  • Lower barrier to entry for existing pilots to become instructors - more attainable and affordable (insurance via a flight school, no commercial or instrument rating required)
  • Availability for checkouts, SP flight reviews, endorsements
  • Sport pilot CFI creates an opportunity that is not a high-investment career path
• Aircraft Owners

  SP/LSA 2.0 has the potential to provide aircraft owners with new and exciting makes and models including different production models of experimental amateur-built aircraft.

  • Provides a pathway for future electric, hybrid, distributed power, and other new propulsion technologies – SP/LSA 2.0 enables innovation by removing the restriction that powered LSAs must have a reciprocating engine.
  • Opens the door to new makes and models of S-LSAs, enabling S-LSA manufacturers to design larger, more capable aircraft under industry consensus standards
  • Expands the potential for new E-LSAs entering the market, expanding the options of various categories providing more choices and greater flexibility to aircraft owners, including ready to fly and almost ready to fly aircraft