EAA today urged the FAA to move forward with its rule proposal titled MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification). EAA notes that the new rule will significantly benefit general aviation – expanding the capability, size, and scope of aircraft that can be built utilizing industry consensus standards and aircraft that can be flown while exercising Sport Pilot privileges.
Other major aviation organizations, including AOPA, NBAA, and NATA, are co-signers with EAA on its comments to the FAA’s NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking). In submitting its comments, EAA emphasized that MOSAIC builds on 20 years of safety and success since the introduction of the sport pilot and light-sport aircraft regulations in 2004.
“For a decade, EAA has offered ideas to the FAA on safely expanding the potential of sport pilot and light-sport aircraft, and those innovations are the genesis of the MOSAIC concept,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board. “With MOSAIC, EAA’s initial ideas have been encompassed in an initiative that will maintain elevated levels of safety while expanding access to training aircraft and foster innovation, as well as bringing economic growth and workforce development into the aviation community. EAA has also brought forward suggestions for minor modifications that would make MOSAIC in its final version even more effective.”
Among the areas where EAA recommended enhancements to the proposal:
- Slightly increasing stall speed
- Allowing sport pilots to fly with up to three passengers
- Providing alternate means to verify night vision minimums for sport pilots to earn a night-flying endorsement
- Maintaining existing requirements and structure for light-sport aircraft repair certificates
“All of EAA’s recommendations consider safety as the priority, while envisioning pathways to take full advantage of opportunities that MOSAIC can provide for increased growth and vitality of recreational aviation,” Pelton said.
The FAA will now review the thousands of comments it has received during the just-concluded public comment period. The agency is expected to issue a final rule sometime in 2024 or early 2025.
