On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:04:26 -0000, "Robert M. Gary" wrote:

On Oct 15, 6:24 am, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Robert M. Gary wrote:
On Oct 12, 4:30 pm, Matt Whiting wrote:
Does anyone know if the Skycatcher will be IFR certified? It doesn't
appear to be from what little I've found at the Cessna web site.

Matt

Will Sport aircraft be allowed to be IFR certified?
-Robert

There is at least one S-LSA aircraft that is IFR certified.http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/601_SLSA/601.html

So then I assume the pilot would need a current class 3 medical,
correct?

Correct, but only when performing those tasks that require use of a Recreational
or higher license. A Sport Pilot can climb into the airplane and fly day VFR,
but if he's going to go on the gauges he needs the appropriate license and
rating (and medical to go with the license).

The FAA made a big terminology mistake with the new rules; they use the same
term for a *definition* as for an aircraft certification category. Any aircraft
meeting the 14 CFR Part 1 definition for "Light Sport Aircraft" can be flown by
a pilot exercising Sport Pilot privileges, whether it's a Private pilot with an
expired medical, or a person with the new Sport Pilot rating. This definition
is summarized at:

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/sportpilot.jpg

However, the FAA also added "Light Sport Aircraft" as a certification category,
both as "Special" and "Experimental." These are aircraft that comply with the
ASTM standards. There's nothing that I know of that precludes aircraft in these
two categories from flying IFR if properly equipped AND with a pilot with
appropriate ratings at the controls. The ASTM standard has a required minimum
for instruments and equipment (which, in fact, requires less instruments than
Part 91 for day VFR) but does not define a maximum.

Ron Wanttaja