The rush is on in Europe… well, at least for the best-prepared of LSA producers. EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, has accepted ASTM standards as a means of certifying a light aircraft in the European Union countries, but put its own stamp on this approval. Those wishing to sell an ASTM-compliant SLSA in Europe have some extra hoops through which to jump. The letters DOA, POA, and RTC apply, being, in order, Design Organization Approval, Production Organization Approval, and Restricted Type Certificate. If you think that sounds a little like Part 23 requirements (read: expensive), you’re right. Yet if a LSA producer wants to sell essentially the same airplane in the USA and the EU, you have to get all the approvals. Recently, a third company achieved this, following Czech Sport Aircraft and Flight Design.
*** The Czech company announced, “Evektor SportStar RTC gains EASA CS-LSA Type Certification and becomes one of the first aircraft on the market certified according to the latest EASA CS-LSA regulations.” Evektor added that they consider this great news for flight schools, aeroclubs and private pilots as the SportStar RTC raises the bar of flight training and cross-country flying to a new level.
Archives for June 2012
Flying the Newest Special LSA: Sling (#125)
*** While out west on business travel I had the chance to fly the latest SLSA on the List, the South African Sling. Earlier I’ve written about the all metal LSA’s round-the-world flight but now this low wing design is being made available for sale to Americans.
*** On a gorgeous Southern California day, Matt Litnaitzky and his associate Ryan Ruel took a 25-minute jaunt from the Torrence airport to the Camarillo Airport in Ventura. (This compares marvelously to a good hour and a half drive on the seemingly endless and always crowded L.A. freeway system.) Ryan cooled his jets in the Waypoint Cafe while Matt and I went aloft in silky smooth air to see how Sling turned out. In a word: beautifully.
*** Handling on the newest LSA is clearly the product of careful engineering and a patient development schedule.