I have two questions related to the LSA (plane, not pilot) specifications. Maybe they belong in two separate threads, but then again they're sorta related, so here goes:
1) For certification of an LSA, either as E-LSA or S-LSA, you have to meet the ASTM (properly spelled A$TM) Consensus Standards. However, if you build/design an experimental (registered as an E-AB) and want to fly it as a Sport Pilot, the E-AB simply has to 'meet the definition of a LSA' according to most sources I read. So the first question I have is: is there an FAA part/AC/whatever that exactly clarifies, in the eyes of the FAA, this full and complete 'LSA definition'? Or is this definition embedded into the consensus standards?
2) Does anyone know of a website/link that tracks FAA changes to this 'LSA definition', or is it a matter of tracking the various FAA NPRMs manually?
Here's an example of what I'm asking about: most of the non-authoritative websites with 'LSA definition' lists don't always include important info (like max speed is CAS), or leave out a lot of details (like the requirement that an LSA glider have an 'autofeathering' propeller). These non-authoritative websites also don't tend to stay up-to-date. Is there a link to an FAA document that fully describes the current 'LSA definition', or am I totally barking up the wrong tree because it's nowhere near that simple.
As an example of question 2, I then find stuff like this: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-3777.pdf that show the FAA has changed the LSA rule to allow manually feathering propellers. (I only found out about that due to a passing reference in Kitplanes magazine.)
My reason for looking for these details is because I'm currently looking at designing/building a one-off E-AB design similar to the Phoenix Motorglider ( Home Page ); flown as an LSA in the short-wing configuration and as a motorglider when wing-tip extensions are added. Europa has something similar with their 'sport pilot wing' and 'motorglider wing' options, although in their case they swap the entire wing pair.
I have a PP-SEL certificate and glider add-on rating (but let my medical lapse some time ago on the PP-SEL), so I'm good to go ratings-wise (with the self-launch endorsement). However, I'm curious what happens when I'm, say, flying along in no-wing-extension LSA mode, land somewhere, and I'm ramp-checked by an FAA guy. I show him my certificate but no medical, and say I'm flying as a Sport Pilot in an E-AB of my own design which 'meets the definition of an LSA', but obviously isn't from a known ELSA or SLSA-compliant kit manufacturer. Does he take me at my word, or does he whip out some document and proceed to club me over the head with it?
1) For certification of an LSA, either as E-LSA or S-LSA, you have to meet the ASTM (properly spelled A$TM) Consensus Standards. However, if you build/design an experimental (registered as an E-AB) and want to fly it as a Sport Pilot, the E-AB simply has to 'meet the definition of a LSA' according to most sources I read. So the first question I have is: is there an FAA part/AC/whatever that exactly clarifies, in the eyes of the FAA, this full and complete 'LSA definition'? Or is this definition embedded into the consensus standards?
2) Does anyone know of a website/link that tracks FAA changes to this 'LSA definition', or is it a matter of tracking the various FAA NPRMs manually?
Here's an example of what I'm asking about: most of the non-authoritative websites with 'LSA definition' lists don't always include important info (like max speed is CAS), or leave out a lot of details (like the requirement that an LSA glider have an 'autofeathering' propeller). These non-authoritative websites also don't tend to stay up-to-date. Is there a link to an FAA document that fully describes the current 'LSA definition', or am I totally barking up the wrong tree because it's nowhere near that simple.
As an example of question 2, I then find stuff like this: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-3777.pdf that show the FAA has changed the LSA rule to allow manually feathering propellers. (I only found out about that due to a passing reference in Kitplanes magazine.)
My reason for looking for these details is because I'm currently looking at designing/building a one-off E-AB design similar to the Phoenix Motorglider ( Home Page ); flown as an LSA in the short-wing configuration and as a motorglider when wing-tip extensions are added. Europa has something similar with their 'sport pilot wing' and 'motorglider wing' options, although in their case they swap the entire wing pair.
I have a PP-SEL certificate and glider add-on rating (but let my medical lapse some time ago on the PP-SEL), so I'm good to go ratings-wise (with the self-launch endorsement). However, I'm curious what happens when I'm, say, flying along in no-wing-extension LSA mode, land somewhere, and I'm ramp-checked by an FAA guy. I show him my certificate but no medical, and say I'm flying as a Sport Pilot in an E-AB of my own design which 'meets the definition of an LSA', but obviously isn't from a known ELSA or SLSA-compliant kit manufacturer. Does he take me at my word, or does he whip out some document and proceed to club me over the head with it?
