Evektor is touting their EASA approval to operate under ASTM standards like American LSA.
Approved! Now Europeans can enjoy LSA.
Sportstars fly in close formation in Florida. photo by James Lawrence
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. “Modern design, robust metal construction, flight-school-proven reliability and half the operation cost compared to conventional training aircraft make the SportStar RTC true choice for private and commercial training,” said Peter Javorsky, Managing Director of Evektor-Aerotechnik.
*** SportStar RTC was certified as a derivative of the Evektor EASA JAR/VLA-certified training aircraft known as Harmony VLA which they believe reflects the latest development in flight school training, safety and travel comfort. SportStar was the very first aircraft approved by FAA in the American SLSA category in April 2005 and has logged many sales in use as a basic flight trainer in the USA, Australia and other countries.
An EASA Restricted Type certificate enables Evektor to begin delivery of fully manufactured SportStar RTCs to customers in Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, and Turkey.
The company’s U.S. representatives — Dreams Come True (Steve Minnich) and AB Flight (Art Tarola) — explained that Evektor-Aerotechnik is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of light sport aircraft, advanced ultralight, and Private Pilot license training airplanes, with over 40 years experience in aircraft manufacturing and EASA-certified production. Evektor has a sales network in more than 40 countries all around the world. A fleet of more than 1,100 Evektor aircraft has been already delivered worldwide. The latest Evektor project is the twin engine turboprop EV-55 Outback that can transport 9 to 14 passengers or be configured for cargo hauling.
Strongly Recommended Reading
This unrelated item seems worthy of being tagged to a news item on regulatory approval. Mac McClellan’s editorial entitled “European Rules Coming to Homebuilts?” deserves your attention as it strikes right at the heart of a growing problem in America: steadily increasing regulation to protect society and ourselves from bureaucrat-perceived danger. I won’t add more of my opinion here but urge all ByDanJohnson.com readers to go to Mac’s blog piece — but even more importantly — to read the numerous thoughtful comments from a wide variety of commenters. Your future of recreational flying may be at risk!
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