Легкие спортивные самолеты: обзор и особенности

Category of lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly

A light sport aircraft (LSA), or light sport aircraft, is a fairly new category of small, lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly. LSAs tend to be heavier and more sophisticated than ultralight (aka "microlight") aircraft, but LSA restrictions on weight and performance separates the category from established GA aircraft. There is no standard worldwide description of an LSA.

The civil aviation authorities in different countries have their own particular specifications and regulations which define the LSA category. For example, in Australia the Civil Aviation Safety Authority defines a light sport aircraft as a heavier than air or lighter than air craft, other than a helicopter, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of not more than for lighter than air craft; for heavier than air craft not intended for operation on water; or for aircraft intended for operation on water. Existing certificated aircraft and experimental, amateur built aircraft that fall within the definition listed in 14CFR1.1 are acceptable, as are aircraft built to an industry consensus standard rather than FAA airworthiness requirements. The accepted consensus standard is defined by ASTM International Technical Committee F37. Aircraft built to the consensus standard may be factory built and sold with a special airworthiness certification (S LSA) or may be assembled from a kit under the experimental rules (E LSA) under experimental airworthiness. A company must have produced and certified at least one S LSA in order to be permitted to sell E LSA kits of the same model. E LSA kits are not subject to the normal experimental amateur built (E AB) requirement 14 CFR 21.191 which identifies an aircraft, the "major portion of which has been fabricated and assembled by persons who undertook the construction project solely for their own education or recreation."

Several different kinds of aircraft may be certificated as LSA. Airplanes (both powered and gliders), rotorcraft (gyroplanes only, not helicopters), powered parachutes, weight shift control aeroplanes (commonly known as trikes), and lighter than air craft (free balloons and airships) may all be certificated as LSA if they fall within the weight and other guidelines established by the local governing authority. The US definition of an LSA is similar to some other countries' definition of "microlight" or "ultralight" aircraft. Other countries' microlight definitions are typically less restrictive, not limiting airspeed, the use of variable pitch propellers, or the gross weight limitation. By contrast, the US FAA has a separate definition of ultralight aircraft defined in Federal Aviation Regulations. Aircraft falling within the US ultralight specifications are extremely lightweight (less than 254 pounds if powered, or 155 pounds if unpowered), are intended for operation by a single occupant, have a fuel capacity of five US gallons (about 19 litres) or less, a maximum calibrated airspeed of not more than , and a maximum stall speed of not more than Ultralight aircraft in the US do not require pilot licensing, medical certification, or aircraft registration. Aircraft certified as light sport aircraft exceed the limitations defined for ultralight aircraft and require that the pilot possess, at a minimum, a sport pilot certificate. Among these aircraft were found those that were specifically designed to meet the LSA requirements, as well as overweight ultralights (commonly known as "fat ultralights") that previously were operated in technical violation of 14 CFR 103. In addition to aircraft specifically designed to meet the LSA requirements, certain certificated aircraft, such as the original Piper Cub, happen to fall within the definition of a light sport aircraft and can be operated by individuals holding FAA sport pilot certificates. The aircraft can not be re certificated as LSA, however: although sport pilots may operate conventionally certificated aircraft that fall within the definition of an LSA, the aircraft themselves continue to be certificated in their original categories. Several designers and manufacturers of experimental aircraft kits have developed models that are compliant with the light sport aircraft rules. In June 2012 the FAA indicated that they would re visit the LSA program after their own studies indicated that "the majority" of LSA manufacturers they had inspected failed to show that they were in compliance with the standards. The FAA announcement said that as a result the "original policy of reliance on manufacturers' Statements of Compliance" "should be reconsidered." AOPA points out that this is a normal development of a maturing standard and does not expect any significant changes in the rules, only more scrutiny by FAA to assure compliance. The FAA announced on July 24, 2023, that it was considering expanding the Light Sport Aircraft category to incorporate the development of emerging technologies, in particular electrically powered rotorcraft.

The LSA category is expected to be drastically expanded with the introduction of MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification). Among the main proposed changes is the elimination of the current limitation on maximum weight, based on parameters related to stall speed, which will be 54 knots with the aircraft clean or with fixed or automatic high lift devices (instead of the previous 45 knots). This will allow for larger aircraft (around 3,000 lbs maximum weight, approximately 1,350 kg), enabling increased safety margins, durability, and comfort for new aircraft certified under this new standard. Currently, MOSAIC is in the process of public consultation, which will last about 90 days (until mid October), with the final regulations scheduled for 2024.

In June 2011, the European Aviation Safety Agency published CS LSA "Certification Specifications for Light Sport Aeroplanes". This introduced a new category of manufactured sport aeroplanes similar to the light sport category found in the US and elsewhere.