There’s little question we’ve covered MOSAIC extensively here on ByDanJohnson.com and have been looking ahead to a day when the proposal is a rule, sport pilots gain access to a whole raft of new aircraft, legacy LSAs have a chance to expand their operating envelopes and many of the companies planning to make new models that fit into the MOSAIC template actually come to market. Yeah, that’s a lot. And, yes, we’re all a little impatient for the FAA to make MOSAIC real.
Since the comment period closed in January, there’s been plenty of industry talk and one major airshow where MOSAIC was definitely a topic of conversation. With that in mind, Dan Johnson, Scott Severen (LAMA’s president) and I are meeting next week (virtually) to catch each other up on the program—video of this meeting will post here next week.
As we prepare for it, I’d like to invite you to submit questions you have and we’ll take them up during our chat. Pop ‘em into the comments section below and we’ll include them in our discussion.
Back to Timelines
Recent reporting (for example, on AVweb) helps clarify a few things. First of all, the timeline. It was understood early on that the FAA was planning on taking 16 months to review public and industry comments, starting from the close of comments. As you probably remember, that was extended from October 2023 to January of this year. Then there was another shorter extension to fix a few “technical” issues with the original proposal, mainly relating to rules around noise and noise testing. My sources say that the FAA is unlikely to add that additional delay to the overall timeline.
There was chatter early on that the FAA might have some kind of announcement at AirVenture this year, but anything beyond “yes, we’re still working on it” seems unlikely. The FAA tends not to do rulemaking in public (after the comment period, anyway), so it’s likely that we won’t hear much until we get the final rule.
But that’s not the end of it. Once the FAA has published its final rule on MOSAIC, the ASTM committees may have to refine their standards based on the final rule and the FAA will need to approve it. Of course, this back-and-forth is already going on, so it’s not like the ASTM committees are working in a vacuum and no one I’ve talked to is predicting massive rewrites. But, according to sources, the approval process on the airframe side could take from 2 to 6 months after the rulemaking is made final. So even if the FAA and the ASTM committees are in close agreement, it still won’t be an instant-on situation.
Where does that get us? According to EAA’s Dick Knapinski, “It is correct that early to mid-2025 is expected to be the announcement of the final rule. We’ve been telling those who ask that, based on our conversations with the FAA, most recently at our annual winter summit in Oshkosh in early March.” But if the approval process stretches out, it could be December of 2025 before the new rules are widely in effect.
Which means the biggest challenge we face with MOSAIC is mustering patience.
In case you missed the broad strokes:
Troy Moore says
Sport pilots really need a pathway to IFR.
Dan Johnson says
We hope that is coming with Mosaic; it’s been on the list for some time. However, creating an industry standard defining “IMC-lite” turned out to be difficult. No one wants to encourage flight into known icing, for example. Getting through a cloud deck is what most Sport Pilots I’ve surveyed have said they hope to do with IFR ops in their LSA.
Robert Davis says
This is the way it seems to me. We are like the Wright Brothers here in America with this sport plane thing and the rest of the world is producing Jet travel while we slug along with single engine snails.
WINSTON BOEDEKER says
The price of aircraft is going up so fast by the time the regulations are adopted no one will be able to afford even the older aircraft. Why don’t they just eliminate the medical for all SEL, Piston, VFR aircraft under a certain weigh?
Jim stutson says
Let’s hope the industry doesn’t influence the FAA to limit the rule an exclude manufactured aircraft like they did originally. I would encourage everyone to voice opinions an help hold the line.
Chris Terrell says
What will be the requirements to become an LSA CFI – i.e. any different than a current CFI?
What will the IFR requirements be – both for the aircraft type and the pilot?
Dan Johnson says
These are good questions we cannot answer until FAA’s final document comes out. We were able to learn a lot about how the airplanes might look, but heard very little about pilot licensing and operating limitations.
Neal Shade says
I am buying an LSA and want to know if LSR-M is going away. I want o be able to maintain my aircraft myself by taking the LSR-M class to do that. Reading Mosaic as it stands would indicate to work on LSA you now have to have the near equivalent training of A&P as LSR-M will disappear.
Dan Johnson says
I would refer you to Rainbow Aviation about whom I have written several times. They are on top of this matter more than anyone I know.
Yes, there is some jeopardy as we saw in the proposal. My hope is that good pilot responses may correct this as FAA finalizes their plan.
Stephan Schwartz says
HI, what happens to the L S A repairmen
Certificate?
Will all the new aircraft that will now be allowed under the new rules, to be serviced with those people that hold this
Certificate?
MICHAEL CROWDER says
I’d be interested in hearing about the maintenance allowed with MOSAIC. What happens to the LS Repairman Certificate? Will there be a new offering?
Steve Bauman says
My friend and I are both private pilots, both in our 60s and both are way out of currency, but we want to get active again. We’d prefer to get checked out in typical certified rented airplanes without getting medicals, therefore as sports pilots. Do you think the mosaic will make this possible?
Bob Pitchford says
I disagree with a BasicMed requirement for night flying, particularly for previously authorized pilots.
Robert Dahmes says
As Mosaic will allow for greater useful payload (such as total crew weight of 600 lbs), will aircraft design incorporate greater cabin height, width, and length for taller, heavier, and “wider” pilots and passengers?
Rand Vollmer says
Will Self Launch Gliders allow in flight adjustable prop? Will there be any change to VNE for Self Launch Gliders – currently limited to 120 knots TAS.
Kevin Wetzel says
That’s a very good question I didn’t even think about mororgliders even though I’ve owned one. Curious if the answer or if they will just register them as fixed wing aircraft.
JOSEPH L HANZ says
Thank you Dan for keeping us informed. You do a good job.
jlk250 says
I would assume that once the rule is enacted, the Sport Pilot portions of it will be effective immediately even if some of the airframe/manufacturer items will require work on the part of ASTM to revise their standards to match.
Marc Cook says
That’s the expectation, yes.
CFB says
Night privilegies are currently ground adjustabl only. Certainly you don’t need to adjust to night flying if you are on the ground…