Light Sport Weight Limit

[dcsfoto]

I was told that the FAA was working hard to announce at Airventure the weight limit will go to 1700 Lbs, well that has changed.

The paperwork is moving around the FAA and it is to remove the weight limit.

The feeling is that if the aircraft meets all other requirements, such as seats,
speeds and fixed pitch prop, weight will take care of its own.

Stand By.

David Kelm
7SS 912iS just certificated

[Av8r3400]

Do you have a source for this? I'd be interested in reading more.

Rumors have been flying around since LS was first proposed of weight increases. No official rule proposal has come of it to date.

[dcsfoto]

Back story:

I am a DAR and am not able to cert my airplane. I have had a close friend that is a DAR wanting to do my inspection. In our talking the LS weight limit came up and I ask about the 1700 Lb . As it goes a high level FAA guy was going to be in town for a meeting with us ( it was the same day as my
knee replacement surgery, I missed the meeting).

This person advised they feel the weight limit is not needed. The speeds
limit the weight as it works. He advised this is in the signature process.
I think they want it done by Airventure. I work with and meet with a lot of
FAA people and this is a hot point now, not a clue why.
I do know the EAA is pushing hard.

this will make a lot of Factory airplanes in the LS class

I have been a DAR 30 years. This could come out tomorrow or 6 yrs from now
The FAA has a lot of hoops to jump though.
David Kelm

[av8rps]

I was initially involved in the creation of the LSA rule. I pushed for 1650 pounds as I knew FBO's / flight training schools needed inexpensive trainers and aircraft like the Cessna 150. But the manufacturers wanted to sell their LSA's as trainers so they pushed to keep the weight lower (probably the single biggest reason Sport Pilot traing has become a dismal failure with FBO's and flight schools in my opinion).

Eventually the FAA moved weight from 1232 to 1320/1430 lbs, and indicated if LSA rule proved itself to be safe they would try to apply the medical benefits to private pilot (which they sort of did recently). When pushed again about raising LSA weights they were somewhat non comittal, justifying that you could now reasonably fly most anything as a private pilot with basic med. While somewhat true, not everyone is a private pilot. And basic med is not as beneficial as the drivers license only requirement enjoyed by light sport pilots.

I've been away from much of that all lately, but am really encouraged to hear the FAA might be working on increasing LSA weight limits once again. They need to do that if they ever want to see LSA traing embraced by the existing traing schools, which would obviously make LSA a more successful program overall. Plus, many flying LSA find themselves flying overgross because of the increasing empty weights that seems to happen to all aircraft as they evolve. Raising the weight would really make sense.

And while they're at it, change the rule to allow in flight adjustable props. When you see the high tech glass panels in many LSA's, comparably operating an in flight adjustable prop is no more difficult to learn than those glass panels. And as LSA continues to evolve, as the aircraft get heavier they need more thrust. Short of bigger heavier higher horsepower engines being used, you can save a lot of empty weight by continuing to use engines like the Rotax 912/914 series. Or better yet, the Rotax 915, which was designed to use an in flight adjustable prop to effectively use the thrust it can make. But then again, every aircraft engine is more efficient with an in flight adjustable pitch prop. Same reason NO ONE builds a single speed automobile.

Ok, enough of my rambling...there's my pitch.

[dcsfoto]

I have been a DAR 30 yrs. Both MIDO and FSDO, the FAA is doing things that blow my mind. They are looking at what we in the EAB world and giving credit to the MFGs for all of our safe hrs of flying.

There is talk of a STC project putting a large EFIS screen in a small Cessna.



David K
7SS 912 iS

[WWhunter]

Bringing this topical back up to see if anyone has seen or heard more.
I have been on a mission to sell off many of my 'toys' in the past year to enable the buying of a new/newer aircraft. Since I have pretty much narrowed my choices down to 3 different aircraft, the possibility of being able to get an aircraft with more capabilities, mainly haul a decent load 'legally', is a game changer. There are other options out there that I would consider if the light sport weight limit is raised.

Having owned/own several different LS types over the past 10+ years, getting something with a little heavier wing loading and useful load would allow me to use a plane for more than the typical 'joy ride' on a nice day. Most of these LS types are not fun (my opinion) when the winds get much over 10-12 kts.