As part of the Oshkosh Live streaming television the Firecrown aviation division (which includes this site as well as KITPLANES) did from AirVenture, I sat down with Rian Johnson, who is, in addition to his role as head of design engineering at Van’s Aircraft, the chair of the ASTM F37 committee working on MOSAIC industry-consensus standards. In this interview, he looks ahead at the next steps for MOSAIC and offers his perspective for what might come out of the FAA next year when the new rules package is announced.
News & Video on Light-Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot Kits, and Ultralight Aircraft
This update is somewhat encouraging. However, it would be great if the FAA could implement MOSAIC in two phases: Phase I (next year by OSHKOSH) Allow Sport Pilots to fly certain Part 23 legacy aircraft (once they make a final determination on Vs0 or whatever qualifying parameter they choose after considering the NPRM comments) and Phase II: Provide the timeline for the update to the ASTM standard for manufacturers (which will take significantly longer). Like other commentators, I recently retired and would love to get flying a legacy Part 23 aircraft next year as a Sport Pilot. There is no reason to delay that portion of MOSAIC for another two years!
Great suggestion Danno.
Wanting a commute aircraft, the Jetson 1; I and any other commuter needs to be able to leave from their driveway and return to their driveway. Current FARs prevent this making the FARs unlawful in this instance. The Jetson 1 with a width under 10 feet is within the interstate maximum width of 12 feet; making it street legal. Also, the Jetson 1 with 3 separate softwares that talk to each other makes it nearly impossible for the Jetson 1 to fail in flight. Plus LIDAR to avoid obstacles. Plus a ballistic parachute in case more than one propeller fails. The Jetson 1 is safer than any fixed wing aircraft. And is very much needed for commuting anywhere. All urban areas have at least morning and afternoon traffic jams. Some places traffic jams go on all day and half the night. More freeways are a very ugly thought. Getting commuters out of their autos and into Jetson 1s could reduce the traffic jams. Except the Jetson 1 with a 20 minute endurance is not quite there yet. Adding 3 battery packs to get 1 hour and 20 minute endurance is needed along with an aircraft radio and transponder. This would move the Jetson 1 to the Light Sport Aircraft category requiring an N number and probably an FAA Form 337 documenting this change. This assumes the weight increase would not affect the controls appreciably. Until someone actually does this, we will not know. I have mentioned this to Jetson without response so far; other than acknowledgement. I believe this is simply beyond their current capability. They are working on a European type certificate I believe and which I believe the FAA will accept. Jetson also says they will likely open a US office somewhere. They have not said where yet. Saving commute time for not only my self but millions of commuters is the goal here. And postponing additional freeway construction by getting auto drivers into the air in Jetson 1s should do this. No doubt numerous copy cats will surface once the above happens. The Jetson 1 sells for $128,000 currently. I am thinking one of those multi millionaires will tire of his or her Jetson 1 and I will be able to buy a used one. Hope springs eternal. So MOSAIC needs to allow only training, no pilot license for light sport aircraft; the same as ultralights.
Also, looking ahead, traffic jams would likely only be reduced only on VFR days. Most Jetson 1 flyers will either stay home or take their auto to work in IFR weather. Though the young and intrepid flyers could add a GPS and plot a route from home to work and back. Knowing this route from VFR flights should make it safe. But either the LIDAR or a separate radar would need to keep track of any aircraft traffic nearby. The VFR corridor next to LAX comes to mind as an example to follow. All traffic goes in one direction at specific locations and the other direction next to the first direction. A highway in the sky. While I would not want to know; I believe instrument rated pilots could use this corridor in instrument conditions with radar or LIDAR plus a GPS plotting a route.
With current technology, solutions are available for almost any condition.
I wonder if there were very many comments proposing allowing the removal of two seats from a six seat airplane to make it MOSAIC compliant?
I love it all. I think they should get their heads together and get this thing done. It’s been too long, there’s enough good information to finish it.
I have always enjoyed the “by Dan Johnson“ reports on our piece of Aviation, and, we’ve been pals since the 80s, I am forever grateful for always seeing the Composiclean, logo and link on every page you’ve done since we started this company. A grateful thank you ☺️
didn’t you watch the video two and a half more years when I was 60 I said I’d be 80 before this was settled you know that I’m going to be right
The way the current rules are written discourages CFI’s from teaching in ultralights. That needs to change. So many young people want to learn to fly but are prevented from doing so by the high cost. That really needs to change by encouraging, by regulation, to teach in ultralights.
I’m a old person who wants to learn to fly ultralight aircraft and was prevented from doing so by the high cost. It was hard just to find a CFI that was willing to teach me in PGD area. Maybe some day..
I never know when someone says ultralight if they are influenced by the Europeans who are referring to the equivalent of a light sport aircraft (LSA) or are they talking about part 103 ultralights? If you are wanting to fly an LSA or get a Sport Pilot rating, I have a recommendation. It is not really in the area of PGD (175 miles north), but Right Rudder Aviation in Inverness Florida will train you in a Light Sport Aircraft or a Motor glider.
I got my Private Pilot Glider rating there. It is quicker and costs less than a Sport Pilot rating, but you are limited to glider or motor glider, assuming that you also get the self launch endorsement.
Max I am talking about Ultralight under 254 pounds. No problem finding a CFI for Sport Pilot license but when I inquired about Ultralight lessons most don’t have a program for that category. The place up in Inverness sounds like a deal for $3000. Thanks for the info.