This might be of interest to some.

A high-ranking FAA source has confirmed that the FAA plans to almost triple the maximum weight for most light sport aircraft to 3600 pounds in rulemaking that will be introduced in January. The source confirmed the scant details of a Facebook post written by AOPA Senior VP of Media and Outreach Tom Haines from the AOPA Regional Fly-In at Carbondale, Illinois. “Great news out of AOPA: your freedom to fly Fly-in at Carbondale,” Haines wrote. “In January the FAA will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking increasing max weight for a light sport airplane from 1320 lbs to 3600 lbs. And ADS-B rebate will be back again in a few days. More to come.” The FAA source declined to elaborate on details of the proposed rulemaking but suggested more information will be forthcoming "soon."

LINK:
https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/LSA-Weight-Limit-Increasing-To-3600-Pounds-231639-1.html

October 7, 2018

I was at a EAA chapter meeting in Kalispell here recently and a person who spoke is a importer/dealer for a company from the Czech Republic that I can't remember. He said at OSH this year the FAA told the company the weight limit for LSA would be upped to 1650lbs and the maximum level speed of 120kts would be dropped. Edit; Let me rephrase "dropped", by saying dropped, I mean removed.

Ether way, it's too soon to say what the official changes will be.

I would like to see it higher than 1,650 but hey, its a step in the right direction! 2,300 would be nice! Or higher! Also include controllable pitch props, no night time restrictions after endorsement, no altitude restrictions and so on.... Shoot for the moon!

Kurt

USA,USA!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we Americans have the most liberal/best rules and regulations concerning private aviation? I for one constantly am surprised when a non pilot expresses amazement that I don't have to "get permission" to take off and fly wherever the hell (almost) I want! Or, that I don't have to be in constant radio communication. This new LSA limit thing is almost too good to be true, it looks like a win/win.

I'm wondering, how will this mesh with flying under Sport pilot rules?

I saw this yesterday, and thought it too good to be true. Hope that it isn't that, and is in fact true.

Eager to see how this all unfolds.

ExperimentalAviator wrote:I was at a EAA chapter meeting in Kalispell here recently and a person who spoke is a importer/dealer for a company from the Czech Republic that I can't remember. He said at OSH this year the FAA told the company the weight limit for LSA would be upped to 1650lbs and the maximum level speed of 120kts would be dropped. Edit; Let me rephrase "dropped", by saying dropped, I mean removed.

Ether way, it's too soon to say what the official changes will be.

Ha, no way it goes to 3600 pounds. A Czech plane maker says the limit will go to 1650 and then got it confused and said the unit was kilograms. 1650 kilograms is about 3600 pounds.

I find it really hard to believe this -- 3600# and (per the article) 150 mph max speed doesn't compute.
I think the bump to 1650# (but someone mistaking pounds for kilos) is much more likely.
I think maybe someone is gonna have a pretty red face when the actual proposal is introduced.

Bonanza Man, I recall the guy saying pounds, but like Hotrod and you, I don't see the weight going up to 3600 lbs

Hotrod, I and probably 20 others were told the top speed limit of 120kts for LSA would be removed. But if the weight change is to 1650 lbs then you still couldn't fly a 172 with a SPL.

A jump to 1650 would catch the early, low GW pa18's and a dropping of the speed restriction will get you into a RV depending on where the builder set the GW.
It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Before you get all celebratory about this, please read the latest EAA information: https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and ... egulations

Public input will likely not happen till 2020. Looooong road ahead.

MTV

mtv wrote:Before you get all celebratory about this, please read the latest EAA information: https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and ... egulations

Public input will likely not happen till 2020. Looooong road ahead.
MTV

MTV,
You beat me to the punch! I was just about to post the exact link. Being intertwined with government crap for many years, I have come to know how very slowly the wheels turn.

Not holding my breath, but wish the EAA and AOPA would put more effort into something akin to the owner maintenance category like Canada did in 2000. It would really help lower costs and help modernize old airplanes IMO.

In the meantime ponder how the GW or speed of the plane relates to current pilot medical standards and self-certification. I now appreciate the need for flight experience vs loads and speed, but a new PP certificate holder with minimum hours and experience has few single engine VFR limits below a Type Rating providing any additional endorsements are complied with. Seat capacity potentially limits liability I suppose.

All old history of course soon to be repeated. It's unfortunate that the current Sport Pilot regs didn't tie privileges to earned experience and endorsements.

Gary

Here's perhaps a reality check on this subject: https://www.bydanjohnson.com/wait-whats ... -aircraft/

Gary

As we know now, it's (likely) not going to be 3600 lbs. They will be using a power index to determine the GW. Also, other changes could be: an increase of speed (let's say 160mph), 4 passengers and a couple other modifications.

My biggest fear, is that I'm going to go out and buy a $80-100k Kitfox, Highlander, AeroTrek, etc....and then this will go into effect. Which could significantly decrease the value of the plane. Who's going to want a LSA that can only do 80% of what the new market is going to be putting out? Because a 2500lb GW, 150mph cruise, 4 seater LSA sounds real nice.

This has to make current LSA owners a little concerned. It definitely make me concerned about buying right now. The FAA has 2 years and 2 months to make a decision but could happen sooner. And that freaks me out.

tcj wrote:I'm wondering, how will this mesh with flying under Sport pilot rules?

That is the important question. Hey, if you want to fly a 3600 lb or greater plane, over 10,000' MSL, at night, etc., it's already all allowed, and very liberally. Just get a PPL, and a BFR every two years. Is 40 hours or so initially, a real checkride, and a half day or less every two years really too much to ask for those privileges?

I know I'll be in a small minority on this forum, but I thought the LSA/Sport Pilot program was plenty liberal and would serve two major categories: 1. Those with no intention of getting or renewing a PPL (e.g. small "backyard" sport flyers, and older pilots giving up the greater privileges of PPL, Comm., ATP, IA, etc.), and 2. An easier, lower cost way to hook new pilots who would eventually transition to full PPL and hopefully other ratings.

And while I'm tossing out minority views, I'll state that I don't mind going to the AME every two years. I kinda liked knowing that most of the other planes around me were driven by someone who'd seen a doc and read an eye chart in the last couple of years. With chronic diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes, etc. skyrocketing and starting at earlier and earlier ages, it's a little spooky.

Pierre

gtylerdowdy wrote:As we know now, it's (likely) not going to be 3600 lbs. They will be using a power index to determine the GW. Also, other changes could be: an increase of speed (let's say 160mph), 4 passengers and a couple other modifications.

My biggest fear, is that I'm going to go out and buy a $80-100k Kitfox, Highlander, AeroTrek, etc....and then this will go into effect. Which could significantly decrease the value of the plane. Who's going to want a LSA that can only do 80% of what the new market is going to be putting out? Because a 2500lb GW, 150mph cruise, 4 seater LSA sounds real nice.

This has to make current LSA owners a little concerned. It definitely make me concerned about buying right now. The FAA has 2 years and 2 months to make a decision but could happen sooner. And that freaks me out.

No free lunch though, as usual. The bigger and faster planes if allowed, won't land as short, take off as short,will use more fuel., etc. IF they change the regs, it's doubtful I'm getting rid of the S-7 and getting a bigger bird,, just because it would be allowable. If I wanted a bigger plane, I'd already have one, the LSA/Sport thing is nice, but not what determines what I want to fly. I can see your point though, many could think otherwise.

gtylerdowdy wrote:As we know now, it's (likely) not going to be 3600 lbs. They will be using a power index to determine the GW. Also, other changes could be: an increase of speed (let's say 160mph), 4 passengers and a couple other modifications.

My biggest fear, is that I'm going to go out and buy a $80-100k Kitfox, Highlander, AeroTrek, etc....and then this will go into effect. Which could significantly decrease the value of the plane. Who's going to want a LSA that can only do 80% of what the new market is going to be putting out? Because a 2500lb GW, 150mph cruise, 4 seater LSA sounds real nice.

This has to make current LSA owners a little concerned. It definitely make me concerned about buying right now. The FAA has 2 years and 2 months to make a decision but could happen sooner. And that freaks me out.

You think this worries you, consider what this does to the current crop of LSA manufacturers......they design a LS compliant aircraft, get it "approved" and put it into production, and suddenly the FAA changes the LS rule, and said manufacturer's aircraft is a real turkey suddenly.

To me, this is the toughest sell in the whole program: You're going to really screw a number of manufacturers. Hopefully, though the manufacturers will use whatever the new standard is to build a better machine.

But, if I were designing an LS airplane right now.....I wouldn't .

MTV

An OM C of A works well for me. If the FAA adopted the same maybe it could serve to lift the "operate in Canada only" restriction

scottf wrote:Not holding my breath, but wish the EAA and AOPA would put more effort into something akin to the owner maintenance category like Canada did in 2000. It would really help lower costs and help modernize old airplanes IMO.