Thread: Lazy Eight's
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Old June 25th 07, 02:51 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Ron Wanttaja
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Default Lazy Eight's

On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:51:58 -0400, "Peter Dohm" wrote:

That leaves one question about which I am still curious. Do you happen to
know what pilot rating and medical certification requirements would exist
for the initial pilot of a new amateur built experimental (or a new design)
expected to comply with the LSA definitions.


The FAA made this a bit more confusing than they had to. A couple years back,
they developed a *definition* of a "Light Sport Aircraft," at the same time they
developed two new certification categories, both with "Light Sport Aircraft" in
the names (Special Light Sport Aircraft and Experimental Light Sport Aircraft).

If an airplane meets the Light Sport Aircraft *definition*, then it can be flown
by anyone with a Sport Pilot license or higher. If the aircraft meets the
*definition*, a person with a Recreational/Private/Commercial/ATP license and a
valid Class III medical or higher may fly the airplane. The same individuals
may instead use a valid state drivers license in lieu of the standard medical,
PROVIDING their last medical "died a natural death" (e.g., just expired rather
than getting canceled) and they have not failed an FAA medical since.

It's like the "fourth step" in the standard FAA medical. You can fly operations
requiring a Class I for six months, then fly in operations only requiring a
Class II for the NEXT six months, and finally can execute Private Pilot
privileges for the next year. After that you, you can be a "Private Pilot
executing Sport Pilot privileges" for as long as you have a driver's license and
DON'T flunk an FAA medical.

The certification status of the airplane is immaterial...it can be normal
category, utility, aerobatic, experimental, limited, etc. If it *meets* the
Light Sport Aircraft definition, a Private Pilot can execute Sport Pilot
privileges and use a driver's license in lieu of a medical.

The specific aircraft certification categories (Special LSA and Experimental
LSA) implement simplified processes to gain airworthiness certificates and
simplified maintenance requirements.

I've got more details on my Fly Baby web page:

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/lsa.html

Ron Wanttaja