With the MOSAIC program now through the comment phase and in the hands of the FAA, we thought it would be a good time to recap some of its key elements and use our considerable powers of observation and prognostication to provide a little context where needed. Join me, Dan Johnson and LAMA president Scott Severen for a wide-ranging talk on MOSAIC.
News & Video on Light-Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot Kits, and Ultralight Aircraft
Dan makes an excellent point (beginning at 17:29) that closer alignment between FAA MOSAIC and EASA 600 kg MTOW (333 km/hr VNE) will pay off in terms of broadening reciprocal market access and transnational regulation compliance while more completely meeting market demand. As the focus shifts to heavier LSA, reciprocity with UK SSDR (300 kg) could even be a “one sentence” way forward for Part 103 regulation modernization, which FAA apparently prefers to let lie in the U.S. context.
Thanks for the great conversation, guys. I’m siding with Dan on the optimistic side, but who knows? I’m just thankful for every bit of LSA / Sport Pilot news I can get my hands on.
I would like to buy a certified plane and fly it under light sport. The plane has a gross weight of 1450 pounts (Alon AC2 Aircoupe). Would I have to wait until the standards mention in the video are completed to fly it or would I be able to fly it as soon as the FAA puts Mosiac in effect.
Once the FAA publishes the final rule and if the Aircoupe meets the basic criteria, you should be good to go. The bigger questions surround airplanes that might see changes in spec or design to make full use of the new rule, such as increased gross weight.
Great discussion guys-thank you!
I’m also curious about the number of private pilots (with PPL’s) who fly only LSA’s with a drivers license/no medical as compared to those with a sport pilot certificate flying LSA’s.
Also, I wonder if the new Mosaic rules will include new privileges for the PPL pilots flying LSA’s. One would think that having a PPL, which requires a bit more training time and knowledge to obtain, compared to a sport pilot certificate, that more flying privileges would follow suit, on top of what already exists. Thanks again for the discussion with very knowledgeable guests!
AOPA publishes these statistics. Around 600,000 US pilots and at least the same number of LSA pilots, plus or minus. As a Jetson 1 enthusiast, all of this unrelated talk is a distraction. And Jetson Aero having over 400 Jetson 1 orders, I know I am not alone. Like most people though, I need to be able to fly the craft before a purchase to know it is for me.
Regular aircraft are antiques now or will be within 20 years. I have around 1000 hours in these antiques and really do not need any more time in them. Being able to fly anywhere at or below 200 feet MSL or 200 feet AGL at 100 to 150 mph is what I am looking for. The Jetson 1 has LIDAR; which I assume can keep track of all objects in the flight path and why flying above 100 feet AGL is probably a necessity to stay away from wires and towers. And an interstate location to recharge batteries. And when multi millionaires get tired of their Jetson 1, that is the one I want to purchase. Let me know at email: tdwelander@gmail.com. Thanks.
I also have a request into the MS FSDO for a waiver to operate any street legal eVTOL up to 200 feet AGL anywhere that is not restricted or temporarily restricted. The FSDO referred my request to a new FAA department: Advanced Air Mobility. AOPA legal said to give them 90 days and if no response to start tracking from the MS FSDOs person I talked with. Since no rules exist for eVTOLs, I was hoping the MOSAIC rule changes might include this. But it appears not. Street legal eVTOLs based on road width requirements should be up to 14 feet in width. Fully operational, the Jetson 1 is under 9 feet in width, I believe. The FAA has said nothing about this though. I went looking for the FAA Department Advanced Air Mobility, found some descriptions, but no meat information and no one to follow up with. The eVTOLs appear to use LIDAR to keep track of obstacles and to stay out of obstacles way. Or from 100 feet AGL to 200 feet AGL is generally open airspace with occasional towers poking up to 400 or 500 feet AGL; but towers are usually well lit; having seen them from above during my 1000 hours of flying antique aircraft. Any body who has contact information for the FAA Advanced Air Mobility Dept; I would be happy to accept it at email: tdwelander@gmail.com. Thanks.
Thanks Guys!
I enjoyed it and if you guys did to, do more of them. Below is a question that always comes up in my mind when discussing LSA.
LSA was for sport pilots. So how many sport pilots are out there? How many private pilots own LSA? Will this eMosaic rules etc. in reality be for only a minor amount of sport pilots flying LSA and the rest (majority) are private pilots that want more useful load and speed. I would love to know the percentages of (sport pilot/private pilot) that own LSA.
Thanks for the discussion.
Not sure about the % of Sports Pilots… I’d say it’s a big number. It is for me, I’m 150 hr SP, waiting on my VL-3 915is.
This doesn’t say anything about how many of which pilot own what kind of plane, but i tpartially answers your question. Don’t know how old the data is, but it was easy to find:
There are 197,665 student pilots.
There are 161,105 private pilots.
There are 6,467 sports pilots.
There are 100,863 commercial pilots
A total of 127 recreational pilots.
There are 164,947 in airline transport.
Big Thanks Rich, I got home early and decided to try and see what I could find. No numbers will be correct or totally accurate but I wasn’t going for that. Here’s what I found and they are in the neighborhood of your numbers. Here’s what I wanted to calc. For what its worth, Here goes.
I found on internet.
5,157 sport pilots
Using Dan and Steve’s database they show 10,831 registered LSA’s. This includes Trikes/Gyroplanes/Powered Parachutes.
So with this knowledge, then they’re 5,674 private pilots and up owning and flying LSA’s. So the ratio is 47.6% sport pilot ownership and 52.4% private pilot and up owning the remaining.
This is what I was after. Has to be somewhat in the ball park and is not to far away from a 50/50 split. I was curious if eMosaic rules/regulations was only going to be for a small amount of sport pilots. But with these calculations, as stated probably a 50/50 ratio.
Enjoy that JMB VL-3. Did you go with fixed or retractable gear? I guess if you went with their LSA version that would be a fixed gear.
Thanks again Rich for doing that research
Glad my information was helpful!
I’m not the Rich with the Vl-3, so you may want to reply to the other Rich so he sees your comment.
I’m a student who’s been on a waiting list to start Sport Pilot training since last August, and I just heard today that my number will be coming up soon, as the instructor has two who are about to take their check rides. 😁
Been waiting for this for more than 20 years, so I’m getting excited. Passed my written with a 98% last fall, took it in the hopes that showing the initiative would bump me up on the wait list, but that strategy didn’t work, but it’s finally about to be my turn!
Thanks for clarifying. How exciting this must be. Congrats on written and hope you get to start soon. That strategy may have worked in slower times, but only those Benjies talk! LOL Its working out for the better. FAA may approve Mosaic right when you take your check ride!
Best wishs for some good fun and learning.