Don Cooney and his EAA award winning Prowler make the cover of the
July/August 2002 issue of the FAA Aviation News magazine. Good Going Don!
Guidelines:
The following regulations and rules have direct bearing on the operation
of the trikes
and the pilots who operate them in the USA. The Federal Aviation Administration is charged to administer them.
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FAA Regulatory and Guidance Library
FAA Order 8900.1 Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS)
TITLE 14 - Aeronautics and Space; Chapter I - FAA
Light Sport Aircraft Registration
Change 1 - Airworthiness Certifications for Sport Aircraft Rule
NPRM Light Sport Rule - April 15, 2008 - (22 proposed changes)
Ultralights and Amateur-built Aircraft
Ultralight Vehicle Advisory Circulars: AC 103-6 and 103-7
Recommended Standards Traffic Patterns for Aeronautical Operations at Airports without Operating Control Towers - AC 90-66A
Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft AC 20-27E
Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook AC 90-89A
Type Certificate for Very Light Aircraft
Repairman Certificate for Amateur-Built Aircraft
Approved Repairman Course Providers for Light-Sport Aircraft
Aeronautical Information Manual (online)
Aeronautical Information Manual (PDF)
ASTM International Committee's LSP Consensus Standards
FAA's New Rules
April 15, 2008 Notice of Propose Rule Making (NPRM) of 22 changes for Light Sport Aviation
Working Group Final Rule - AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT AVIATION RULEMAKING COMMITTEE
Nature's Rules
Takeoffs are optional. Landings are mandatory.
Flying is not dangerous. Crashing is dangerous.
Atitude is Your Friend
Registration or Certification: (ranked from minimum to maximum)
Pilot
1 - Outlaw - Ignore all federal regulations, state, and association guidelines
2 - Ultralight - FAR 103, AC 103-6, AC 103-7, and AC 90-66A
3 - Sport - FAR 61, Subpart J
4 - Recreational - FAR 61 Subpart D
5 - Private - FAR 61 Subpart E
6 - Instructor (Sport) - FAR Part 61, Subpart K
7 - Instructor (Other) - FAR part 61 Subpart HTrike
1 - Outlaw - pilot/owner/maker ignore all registrations, concensus standands, and certifications
2 - Ultralight Vehicle - FAR 103 (AC 103-7; 2-seat trainer exemptions issued to EAA, USUA, ASC, USHGA, LAMA expired Jan 31 January 2008)
3 - Glider Trike - FAA Special Programs: Motorized Glider under Experimental Amateur Build or Exhibition
4 - Special
a - Light Sport (SLSA) Weight Shift Control, (FAR Parts 1, 21, 43, 45, 61, 65, and 91)
b - Experimental (FAR 61.319)
a - Amateur Build
b - Exhibition
c - Light Sport (ELSA) (transitioned ultralight)Repairman
1 - Outlaw - ignors regulations and training. Performs all maintenance and repairs to aircraft
2 - Ultralight Vehicle - Peforms all maintenance and repairs to UL vehicle
3 - Light Sport - Attends approved repairmen course to perform "inspections" and/or "maintenance" to experimental light sport and/or special light sport aircraft
4 - FAA Maintenance Technition (A and P) - Performs maintenance and repairs to all aircraft
5 - Repair Station - Personnel at a FAA approved service provider
History: (under construction)
1950's Francis Rogallo designs the Rogallo wing from which the flex-wing hang glider emerges.
1963 - John Dickinson invents the "modern" hang glider.
January 26, 1953 - Twenty-six aviation enthusiasts meet at Milwaukee’s Curtiss-Wright Field to form the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Date ? - Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) creates ultralight program. Drops it. Program picked up by EAA.
Date ? - John Ballentyne steps out of the shadows of AOPA and EAA to establish the United States Ultralight Association (USUA).
September 2, 1982 - FAA creates Part 103 - Ultralight Vehicles regulation.(Part 103).
1986 ? - Two-seat Ultralight training exemption created.
August 30, 1993 - FAA establishes Part 103 (Ultralight Vehicles) Working Group of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC).
August 14, 1994 - Aerosports Connection (ASC) founded by Jim Stephenson. Emerged from USUA. Initial focuses on powered parachutes.
February 5, 2002 - Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft Rules Proposed. FAA Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) begins.
May 6, 2002 - The Federal Register printed the FAA's NPRM for the Sport Pilot and Sport Light Aircraft Regulations.
December 24, 2003 – Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta signs Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft Rules.
July 20, 2004 - FAA Administrator Blakley signs the Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft Rules.
July 27, 2004 - "Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft" enacted.
September 1, 2004 - Light Sport Pilot and Aircraft rule effected.
January 31, 2007 - Registered UL Pilot Prior to Sept 2004 to Sport Transition Ends.
January 31, 2008 - Ultralight Trainer Transition to Sport Aircraft Ends.
January 31, 2010 - ELSA Former UL Trainer Used-for-Hire status Ends.
Comments about Sport Rule:
Initial Light Sport Aviation NPRM
Light Sport Aircraft and Sport Pilot NPRM
Second Light Sport Aviation NPRM - Comment period ends August 2008