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Light Sport Aircraft. Airworthiness Requirements SAAA Authorised Persons Familiarisation training Southport Queensland 23 September 2006 Uncontrolled Document . What is an LSA . New category of aircraft (does not replace any other existing category)
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Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements SAAA Authorised Persons Familiarisation training Southport Queensland 23 September 2006 Uncontrolled Document
What is an LSA • New category of aircraft (does not replace any other existing category) • Existing registered aircraft are NOT applicable • Production or kit built (no 51% rule) • MTOW 600 kg (650 kg for sea planes) • Max 2 person • Single engine – Non turbine • Certificated by the manufacturer • Continuing airworthiness controlled by the manufacturer
LSA Project History • FAA issues NPRM 31 January 2002 • CASA initiates LSA Project October 2002 • CASA NPRM issued June 25 2003 • 27 responses received • Overall positive response to the proposal • FAA LSA aircraft rule commences Sept 1 2004 • ASTM standards not available until March 2005
LSA Project History • LSA Project Team conducted a Safety Risk Analysis of the draft regulations • Advisory Circulars published for comment on CASA website July 2005 • AC 21-41 LSA CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS • http://www.casa.gov.au/rules/1998casr/021/021c41.pdf • AC 21-42 LSA MANUFACTURER’S REQUIREMENTS • http://www.casa.gov.au/rules/1998casr/021/021c42.pdf
LSA Project History • Amendments to CASRs made 15 December 2005 • LSA aircraft eligible to operate under VH registration • Amendments to CAO made 3 January 2006 • LSA aircraft eligible to operate under the sports organisations (RAA, HGFA, ASRA)
Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Project Team • CASA staff • Industry representation • Sports organisations • Manufacturers • Other specialists, • Authorised Persons, Reg 35 engineers.
Light Sport Aircraft Definition • MTOW 600Kg • 650Kg for seaplanes • Lighter-than-air gross weight of 560kg • 2 person • Unpressurised cabin • Stall speed 45 knots Vso • Single engine non-turbine • Fixed undercarriage • Except glider may have retractable • Amphibian may have repositionable landing gear • If glider Vne of 135 CAS
Variation with FAA definition • Stall speed • VS0 45 knots (CASR) • Stall speed with flaps • VS1 45 knots (FAA) • Stall speed in clean configuration • Never exceed speed Vne for glider • 120 knots (FAA) • 135 knots (CASR) • Propeller • Fixed pitch or ground adjustable (FAA) • No requirements (CASR) • Lighter-than-air • 560 kg (CASR) • 300 kg (FAA)
Light Sport Aircraft Categories • Fixed Wing • Weight Shift • Powered Parachutes • Gyroplanes • Gliders • Lighter-Than-Air
What is not an LSA • Hang gliders • Para gliders • Multi-engine aircraft • Helicopters • Complex aircraft • Retractable undercarriages • Turbine engine
Benefits of LSA • Purchase costs reduced. • Improves the entry process for LSA. • Potential export markets. • Estimated USA market will be 6,500 aircraft in next 5 years and 800 a year after that. • Enables Australian manufacturers to have access to USA LSA market. • CASA’s minimal involvement. • More staff available for higher priority work. • Regulatory responsibilities and requirements transferred to the manufacturer.
Responsibilities • Manufacturer responsible for • Certification • Shows compliance with LSA standards • Continuing airworthiness. • Approval of major repairs/modifications • Assessment of defects • Issue of Service Directives • Issue of Service Bulletins etc • Database of aircraft owners
Responsibilities • CASA responsible for • approving LSA standards • Participate with industry in periodically reviewing LSA standards • Overseeing authorised persons who issue certificates of airworthiness • Registration of aircraft if CASA registered. • Impose conditions or directions, if necessary, in the interests of safety.
Responsibilities • Authorised Persons responsible for • Verifying manufacturer’s statement of compliance • Ensuring operating instructions, maintenance manuals etc are available • Inspecting the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation • Issuing a special certificate of airworthiness.
Responsibilities • Operator of a Production LSA is responsible for ensuring • The maintenance and inspections are in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements. • All major repairs, modifications and maintenance are approved by the manufacturer • The aircraft is operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s operating instructions
Responsibilities • Operator of a Production LSA is responsible for ensuring (cont’d) • All manufacturer’s service directives are carried out • The aircraft has a warning placard and passengers are informed of the warning • Applicable equipment ADs (if any) are complied with. • RAA aircraft exempt from ADs (covered by technical manual)
CASR Part 21 Amendment • Enable qualified LSA manufacturers to certify aircraft complies with LSA standards • design, quality assurance, production testing and continuing airworthiness.
CASR Part 21 Amendment • Enable CASA or an Authorised Person (AP) to issue a special airworthiness certificate for production LSA. • Enable CASA or an AP to issue an experimental certificate for kit built LSA • Must be produced by a manufacturer of production aircraft. • Cannot produce a one off kit built aircraft • There is no 51% rule for kit LSA
Qualified Manufacturer • Has a current production certificate for an aircraft ; or • Has made a written declaration indicating • Contracted an experienced engineer in light aircraft design • Suitable facility and tools • Trained, experienced and skilled staff
LSA Standards • Consist of • ASTM consensus standards (approved by FAA) • design, • quality assurance, • production acceptance test and • continued operational safety system • Other acceptable design standards • JAR VLA, BCARS etc
ASTM standards • FAA asked ASTM to facilitate consensus standards for LSA • Committee of manufacturers, aviation sports bodies and regulators. • Each aircraft category responsible for developing their own standards • So far 27 standards have been issued • Listed in Advisory Circular 21-42
LSA Certificate of Airworthiness • Two types of Certificate • Special Certificate of Airworthiness for LSA • Production Aircraft • Experimental Certificate for LSA • Kit built aircraft • Production aircraft that do not comply with Continuing AW requirements
Production LSA • Special C of A is issued if: • Aircraft manufactured by a qualified LSA manufacturer • Applicant gives CASA or AP • Statement of compliance signed by the manufacturer • Aircraft operating instructions, maintenance and inspection procedures and flight training supplement issued by the manufacturer • These are returned to the applicant • If manufactured overseas • Aircraft manufactured in a Contracting State and is eligible for a C of A • CASA or AP finds the aircraft in a condition for safe operation
Statement of Compliance • Aircraft make, model, serial number and date of manufacture • Aircraft complies with LSA standards for • Design • Manufacture • Production acceptance testing • Continuing airworthiness • Make available operating instructions, maintenance and inspection manual and flight training manual • Aircraft is manufactured by a qualified manufacturer
Conditions for Special C of A for LSA • The special C of A LSA stops being in force • If a major modification/repair is not authorised • by the manufacturer or • by a person appointed by CASA if the manufacturer no longer exists • If the aircraft does not comply with the LSA standards
Modifications • ASTM Maintenance Standard, F2483 -05, defines any repair, alteration or maintenance for which instructions to complete the task are excluded from the maintenance manual(s) supplied to the consumer are considered major. • Major repairs, alterations etc must be approved by the manufacturer. • This includes CAR 35 modifications.
Experimental LSA • Experimental Certificate under CASR 21.191(j) - Kit built aircraft • Manufacturer’s statement of compliance • Assembly instruction from the manufacturer. • Operating instructions, aircraft maintenance and inspection procedures and flight training supplement • The same make and model as a production aircraft • Must satisfy the LSA definition
Experimental LSA • Experimental Certificate under CASR 21.191(k) • These production aircraft that no longer satisfy the LSA requirement applicable for Special C of A • Not complied with Manufacturer’s CAW requirements, or • Not complied with safety directives or • Has unauthorised modifications • Must still satisfy the LSA definition
Airworthiness Directives • In general, CASA will not issue ADs for LSA models. • Some specific ADs may still be applicable to VH registered aircraft • Aeronautical products • Type certificate engines and propellers • Equipment such as transponders, flight instruments, radio and navigational
CAO amendments • Amendments to CAO 95 series have been issued to allow the sport organisations to operate • Production LSA and • Kit LSA. • These requirements mirror the LSA requirements in CASR Part 21
Operating limitations • Experimental/kit LSA Category • No change to current Experimental kit limitations • Production aircraft • Private operations • Flight training • Glider towing • Hire
Operating limitations - Production LSA • Must not operate unless • Maintenance has been carried out IAW manufacturer’s requirements • Maintenance CAO 95.56 exempts certain requirements in the regulation for VH aircraft only. • Aircraft inspected every 12 months • If undergoing flight training, hire etc every 100 hours • All major mods/repairs authorised by the manufacturer • Placard warning is displayed and each passenger is informed of the warning
Operating limitations - Production LSA • Unless approved by the manufacturer the aircraft must not be operated contrary to • the operating instructions • Safety Direction issued by the manufacturer • This has the same affect as an AD
Operating limitations - Production LSA • CASA may impose additional operating limitations in the interests of safety • CASA must give this to each registered operator of the aircraft
Operating limitations - Production aircraft • In the case that a manufacturer no longer exists • Major modifications/repairs, safety directives, maintenance and inspection procedures can be issued by a person appointed by CASA. • If no person is appointed by CASA, these aircraft will have to operate under an experimental certificate
Process for operating an LSA under RAA • Purchase a Light Sport Aircraft • Production • Kit • Make sure the manufacturer/distributor supplies • A Statement of Compliance signed by the manufacturer • Operating Manual • Maintenance manual • Flight test supplement
Process for operating an LSA under RAA • Register the Aircraft with RAA • Fill out an application for a C of A • Contact an Authorised person to issue the CofA • Authorised person will need to ensure it complies with the LSA requirements and is in a safe condition for operation. • If it is a kit the AP also needs to ensure that a production aircraft of the same make and model has been issued with a special C of A. • The AP issues a C of A • Go fly the aircraft