Light Sport Aircraft come in three flavors - do you know which is which?
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- The FAA gave us Light Sport Aircraft in 2004. Many mistakenly think all LSAs are the same, or at least similar. There's more to the story than you might know. Here's a quick breakdown that will help you make your choice whether you're looking to buy or rent, learn to fly or step down from the cockpit of an airliner. We're willing to bet there's more to the Light Sport Aircraft market than you thought.
Extremely generous and admirable that in looking at the comment section you reply to everyone that asks a question and share your knowledge beyond just the video...Class Act!!!
Our goal is to educate and entertain. We’re just pleased to have appreciative viewers who keep us as motivated as we hope to motivate them.
I'm so thankful for the light sport category. If I ever own a plane, it'll be an LSA! I'm training to be a sport pilot and don't need anything more. 100% recreational. Who knows, maybe I'll build an RV-12 someday.
We hope you knock it out of the park on that Sport Pilot checkride then get to build that RV-12 when you're ready. Wonderful goals!
I enjoyed flying that way for several years, but then I wanted to use a plane for travel which unfortunately isn’t very good without IFR capability. Hopefully, that’s something you will be able to do if you desire.
Or you could buy a real airplane for less money
@@nikitaclark1118 But you’d not necessarily be getting a better value. Also, your “real” airplane comes with “real” additional costs and restrictions.
I’m really, really tired of this sort of nonsense from the tiny crowd which is left in general aviation under whose stewardship personal flight has become a nearly extinct avocation. The two most popular certified planes are the Cirrus and the Skyhawk. One is a somewhat evolved aircraft design that is 30 years old and the other is a 60 year old design which has evolved not much more in its 6 decades of manufacture and was’t actually revolutionary when it was first offered. The reasons for this travesty are many, but one of them is certainly the attitude you’ve shown here.
@@nikitaclark1118 fair but ongoing costs favor LSA over “real”ones 👊❤️✈️
Awesome and educational video. Really provided a wealth of info into my decision making process regarding which path of airplane ownership do I now want to take. I use the term now as I previously owned a single engine Beech. Now that I am desiring to re-enter the cockpit, albeit via Basic Med, I'm just trying to educate myself a bit before taking the leap back into airplane ownership. As an A & P, I like the idea of an Experimental LSA as I can do my own modiications without a lot of regulatory restriction, all the while, maintaining the A & P and personal aircraft maintenance standard. Again, Great video! And I'd also welcome comments and replies.
I'm of the same mind, @kens8632. Holding an A&P is a real benefit for anyone who owns an ELSA. I've owned an experimental (AirCam) but not a light sport experimental. You can bet they become more and more attractive to me as I get older and more focused on the economics of my flying life.
I converted my Fight Design CTLSi to experimental. Got my Repairman Certificate so I could do my own “ condition inspection”.
It was a wonderful airplane. Glass panel, 120 knots cruise using car gas.
Aircraft was destroyed when Helene put8 feet of water in my hanger.
It broke my heart.
That’s tragic, @Bill3558. We’re truly saddened to hear of such a loss.
Hi, That was very interesting. I guess I am a LS pilot here in England. We have all these complications too.
If you've got a government, you've got regulations. The two go hand-in-hand. Sad but true.
I really enjoy my Jabiru 250 SLSA & my Taylorcraft!
Two fine machines,@@PatrickAviator. We’re a little envious.
3:35 5:15 SLSA = special, not sport. @powerstroke01 noted this, but to go down a rabbithole: "special" is for special airworthiness certificate, which is why 91.205 doesn't actually apply to it but all the 91.327 limitations do apply including (e), disclosing to passengers. I know, pedantic.
It's cool that the first photo you show is of the Rans S-7S Courier, as if I were to go the amateur-built route for Sport Pilot (E-LSA), that is my current top pick. However, I've been doing some research just the last couple of weeks, and it looks as though I can get into a used Champ of similar configuration and performance for what Rans says is the typical cost to complete the S-7S. If MOSAIC passes, then the plethora of Citabrias, Scouts and Decathlons are suddenly available to me.
The advantage of the "legacy LSA" is that I don't spend a year of my retirement building an aircraft, but can spend that time flying before I am too old. The advantage of the E-LSA is that am not paying someone to maintain it, and that Rotax (as you touched on) sips fuel, and can burn autogas.
Exactly, @johnhenderson1760. There are advantages on either side of the LSA market. It's up to us to decide whether we want to buy and fly, or buy and build then fly. There's no right answer that works for everyone, but there's a right answer for any one of us.
Eager to see the update for this when MOSAIC is final!
Count on it, @AnthonyMartinez. We'll be looking forward to doing an episode on the finished ruling, too.
Hmmm one day, Alpha Kilo Experimental ? 🤣 great video sir
Got my PPL in a light sport - P92 Tecnam Eaglet.
I’m just wondering if I’m a CFI-CFII IN ASEL - Do I need additional training or endorsement or something to be able to teach on SLSA? Thanks for doing this type of videos.
As a CFI you’re good to go instructing in SLSA as well as aircraft produced by the legacy manufacturers. You may wish to become familiar with the specific aircraft you’ll be providing training in. That’s the responsible move. But your CFI ticket allows for providing instruction in SLSAs as well.
Cessna Skycatcher, can I fly IFR with this airplane? Can I use it to train students?
There seems to be confusion on the internet in regards to this.
The Skycatcher is an SLSA. It can be used as a trainer, including as an instrument trainer. But as an LSA it can’t be flown in IMC.
So sad they were created to attract more wannabe pilots, specially on pricing and lower restrictions, but they have become money making machines going almost beyond $100k for just a few and scaring our and away many like me.There you see statistics for aviation community going down instead of up as pricing is for me the 1st rock in the floor, I wont pay hundred thousands for just a piece of aluminum..frustrated student here with 68hrs for PPL I quite.Greetings from Puerto Rico.
LSA's like most aircraft depreciate in price over time. Used aircraft can be far less expensive than new aircraft. Since price is the barrier that's keeping you out of the game, you might consider a co-ownership arrangement with one or two other potential owners, or a flying club that could cut the cost even further. Let us know if either of those options intrigues you. Pat and Jamie have extensive experience with both options and are happy to share their experiences and knowledge.
Could you clarify eLSA would NOT be logable in pilot log book because it is an "Experimental status"? But sLSA is logable? and what about Gliders with or without electric motors, Gyro copters, Trikes, and Powered Parachute, do they fall in the window of "Light Sport"? Meaning I could just get in one and fly it as a certificated pilot?
Time spent at the controls of an LSA is absolutely loggable time. It may or may not count toward earning a certificate or rating, depending on whether it's an ELSA (not acceptable) or an SLSA (no problem), or a Legacy LSA (no problem). Gliders and motor gliders are a different deal. They don't require a medical certificate of their pilots and never did. As for gyrocopters, trikes (weight shift) and Powered Parachutes or Powered Paragliders, each would require specific training and in most cases certification. There is no shortcut if you'd like to remain among the living. Aeronautics is not something you can just pick up on your own as you go along.
All time in an ELSA or SLSA counts for experience and for certificates. You can even take a commercial check ride in an ELSA.
Our read is that exceptions come into play with ELSAs@@michaelmurphy5738. If the ELSA is owned by the individual receiving the training, or if the Instructor has a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA), the applicant may be able to train for a rating or certificate. As for the practical test, that's up to the individual DPE. Not all will consent to doing a ride in an ELSA. That is their prerogative.
SLSA = Special light sport
Oops. Jamie misspoke when he called them Sport Light Sport Aircraft. He's not always the sharpest pencil in the box. We're working with him to straighten him out.
"Legacy LSA" does NOT exist. They are not LSA, they are certificated aircraft ONLY. The fact that a Sport Pilot can fly them does NOT change the fact that they ARE certificated. There are no repairman options with these specifically named vintage aircraft and everything that goes into them has to be TSO.
You make a fair point, @m39fan. Legacy aircraft weren't produced as Light Sport Aircraft and aren't maintained in the same way as LSAs. But they do meet the qualifications of a Light Sport Aircraft. In a video that focuses on which aircraft a Sport Pilot might wish to fly, or which models a flight school might choose to put on their line, it's completely reasonable to include the Legacy aircraft. They are certificated as you suggest, however that certification comes from an agency that pre-dates the FAA and no longer exists. We choose not to muddy the water with unnecessary complexity. For that reason we include ELSA, SLSA, and Legacy aircraft in this video. We're genuinely sorry if that set you off.
Bahamas and alaska is open to light sport. Inadequate conversation without talking about mosaic, because light sport will be unrecognizable and unaffordable to many pilots.
We posted a video that dealt with MOSAIC last week, @mauriceevans6546. That topic wasn't included in this video because our focus was on the current LSA environment. We'll do more on MOSAIC as that rule comes into being in the coming year.
@MadPropsAero Yes you did! Didn't realize that until after I posted this. No need to include mosaic until we know what the final rule is anyway. My apologies! Sport pilots can fly to bahamas as well as to Alaska if done by flying up the coast of Canada into Alaska. Considered a domestic flight. AOPA did a segment on it.
No apology necessary,@@mauriceevans6546 . We appreciate the feedback. Knowing what interests viewers gives us tremendous insight into what upcoming episodes might focus on. Thanks for sharing.
Just be a PPL
You might be surprised to see how many Commercial Pilots and ATPs also operate LSAs, LukeKirk1113. For many of us the less regulatory standard for Light Sport Aircraft and pilots who choose to only exercise the Sport Pilot privileges of their certificate, going the Light Sport route makes sense for many reasons.
@@MadPropsAero I don’t care about the planes at all, It’s the lack of training sport pilots get and the lack of quality sport instructors give. Sport instructors have half the experience and skill as a commercial pilot CFI.
Understood,@@LukeKirk1113. The video is specifically about the aircraft, not the Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot rating. That's a separate topic entirely.
@@MadPropsAerothat’s ok I get that, the planes themselves are fine. But just go get a PPL and get more training and be able to fly more aircraft.
Really not a fan of the proposed expansion of LSAs in MOSAIC, considering a 182 a light sport is frankly dangerous.
@LukeKirk1113 is that why the death rate is twice as high for ppl than sports because they have so much more experience?