By Susan Parson Photos by H. Dean Chamberlain It may seem like it started only yesterday, but the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft rule (SP/LSA) celebrates its fifth “birthday” this summer. In many families, making a “how-tall-are-you-now” mark on the wall is a time-honored birthday tradition. In keeping with that concept, this article reviews and celebrates the mark SP/LSA has made since it joined the aviation family back in 2004. My, How You’ve Grown! In developing the SP/LSA rule, FAA’s intent was to increase safety by closing gaps in existing regulations, accommodate advances in technology, provide for the manufacture of light-sport aircraft that are safe for their intended operations, and several other purposes. A key idea was to make it possible for more individuals to experience sport and recreational aviation in a manner that is not overly burdensome, but still safe. Today, more than 2,000 individuals have earned sport pilot certificates, and numerous others have earned sport pilot privileges.
Happy Birthday LSA!
Published in FAA Aviation News