FAA Rulemaking Initiative Is Biggest Thing To Hit General Aviation In A Long Time
The standards development process is a passion, Linda Sollars told Aero-News MOSAIC Day at SUN ’N FUN. Sollars, who is with the ASTM Committee F37, said the committee will be sending recommendations to the FAA in the next 24 hours.
The ASTM Committee has 314 members in 20 countries working on specifications for systems and equipment for light sport aircraft. Sollers presented on the modernization of special airworthiness certification (MOSAIC). She also introduced some committee members she’s been working with.
“The real pillars of MOSAIC are to improve the safety, inspire innovation, and make it more accessible and affordable for other people. It is Part 22 – a new rule – that will go into effect July 24. We are going to expand the types of aircraft that are light sport,” she said. “Previously there were only five types that were considered light sport. The definition of light sport has been deleted and we are planning for the new and novel and we have all kinds of power plants.
“Part of the drivers for this were also the fact (that) training aircraft were aging back 20 years ago when they did the first light sport aircraft. Light sport aircraft are now as safe if not safer than certified aircraft,” Sollars said. “And that was part of the motivation, because the FAA saw a lot of innovation and progress in the experimental world but wanted to improve safety and make it so people could actually buy these planes from manufacturers and use them for various uses such as training.”
FMI: www.astm.org
