Standards for the new US category of light-sport aircraft are to be drawn up under the auspices of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). Industry will be responsible for agreeing and applying consensus standards for the design and production of the light two-seat aircraft under the US Federal Aviation Administration's so-called sport pilot notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), released last month.
The basic standards could be in place by the time the final sport pilot rule takes effect, expected by the middle of next year, says Earl Lawrence, Experimental Aircraft Association vice-president of government and industry relations. Certification is expected to take three to six months. SkyStar Aircraft has already announced plans for a Kitfox Sport, based on its Series 7 kitplane, to be certificated and available by December next year. The aircraft is expected to sell for less than $60,000.
Manufacturers of light-sport aircraft will not have to obtain costly FAA type certification, but will have to guarantee that the design and production quality-control system meet industry consensus standards, says Lawrence. This will mean higher costs for manufacturers used to building kitplanes and ultralights, but will provide access to a new market for recreational aircraft, says Lawrence.
Although the ASTM will draw up specific US light-sport aircraft design and production standards, products which already meet Canadian, European or UK standards for very-light aircraft are expected to comply. US companies are concerned this could give foreign manufacturers an early advantage in the market.
Source: Flight International
