The first ballot on consensus design standards for light sport aircraft has been completed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. The US Federal Aviation Administration, meanwhile, is "on target" to release the final sport pilot rule by mid-year, says the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
The sport pilot rule will create a new category of small, simple, low-performance aircraft. For powered fixed-wing aircraft, the light sport category will be limited to two-seat, single-engined designs with fixed landing gear, a take-off weight of 560kg (1,233lb), landing-configuration stall speed of 39kt (72km/h) and level-flight speed of 115kt.
To keep costs down, light sport aircraft will not be certificated by the FAA, but will be manufactured and maintained to standards agreed by industry. ASTM subcommittees are developing consensus standards for design and performance, quality assurance, production acceptance and continuing airworthiness.
The first ballot on consensus design standards for special and experimental fixed-wing light sport aircraft was completed in December.
Source: Flight International
