FAA Ponders Changes To LSA Certification

[Ed Cesnalis]

The FAA is considering making some major changes in the way special light sport aircraft are approved, Dan Johnson, chairman of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, said on Wednesday. FAA officials told LAMA that in the future, LSA manufacturers may have to pass a compliance audit conducted by a specially trained cadre of FAA inspectors. The FAA staffers would also inspect the first production airplane for each LSA model produced. "Airworthiness certificates will not be issued until after both the audit and inspection are successfully completed," the FAA said. If the FAA follows through on this plan, it would be a major change from the current practice, which allows manufacturers to certify on their own that consensus standards have been met.

 

 

 

Although the FAA has not yet taken any formal action to change the status quo, Johnson said the industry should start now to be prepared for possible changes. FAA officials, including Administrator Randy Babbitt, have said frequently that they have found no cause for alarm in the safety record of LSAs, but a recent FAA assessment of the industry led regulators to believe that many companies are not in full compliance with the ASTM standards, according to Johnson. "Therefore, it is in your best interest to review your compliance," Johnson said in a letter to LAMA members. On Wednesday, Johnson told AVweb that it's too soon to consider the impact of these possible changes on aircraft owners and buyers. "All of it is tentative," he said. "LAMA just wanted to get the word out now to manufacturers, to be prepared." He said he doesn't expect the FAA would start to review LSAs that are already in the market, but would focus their efforts on proposed new models.

[Roger Lee]

Here are the letters from the FAA.

 

 

FAA actions LTR-0610v4.pdf

 

 

FAA_Final_LSA_Report.pdf

[sandpiper]

The danger here is that the FAA will over react, over reach, and over regulate thus driving the LSA market out of existence. Many bureaucrats have a tendency to one size fits all. Thus they will take the worst example of a problem at a manufacturer and apply corrective action liberally to all. As far as I know, there have been no real problems with LSA except for the Zodiac 601 and I'm not sure of the specifics of that one. These folks (FAA) mean well but they don't know any better. Few have real world private sector experience. They have never had to produce a product much less meet a payroll. The new employees coming in are taught by the old guard and I bet some of that old guard are chaffing over LSA to include no need for a medical. What the FAA needs to do here, if anything, is take a precise surgical approach to correct specific problems with specific manufactures. But, they won't since that means lack of ability to flex muscle to show who the boss is, and because the surgical approach means more work for them - or the perception thereof.

 

This coming from a career bureaucrat!!

[airhound]

Well said from one bureaucrat to another....Even though they develop cost impact assessments. So what? Its not their money and they can't afford anything nice anyway on their salaries.

 

Anybody have a feel for profit margin on a new CT? A swag? I'm thinking they've saved on cost early in the program that if they can stick with current approved models, maintain good customer assistance, and lower airframe prices a tad they'll keep the lead as the field gets narrowed. Wishfull thinking..

[airhound]

AVWEB

 

Thursday 8th July 2010

 

Question of the Week Question of the Week Home »

Should there be more government oversight in the LSA sector?

 

The FAA should butt out and honor the original rulemaking that created Light Sport/Sport Pilot. 40% 112 votes

 

There are no major safety issues, but the FAA is sending a signal. 13% 37 votes

 

 

Increased FAA involvement was inevitable, and we might as well welcome their input and get it over with. 12% 34 votes

 

Manufacturers have to pull up their socks and ensure all standards are met. 22% 61 votes

 

LSA standards shouldn't be any less than full certification. 11% 30 votes

 

OTHER (My opinion doesn't appear as a choice.) 1% 4 votes

[Roger Lee]

FD is setting in a good position for all of this. This has actually been out for close to a year I found out. FD took notice and is well up to speed. They won't have any worries. Can't say that about a few LSA companies though.