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Light-Sport ASTM Committee Meets at AERO

April 9, 2009 — The ASTM International Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) Standards Committee continued its ongoing review and update of current standards at the group’s semi-annual meeting March 30-April 1 at the Aero European general aviation trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Committee Chairman Earl Lawrence, EAA vice president of industry and regulatory affairs, reported that there was broad representation from European and Asian civil aviation authorities as more and more nations throughout the world seek to embrace the LSA category. Government agencies represented included the China and New Zealand civil aviation authorities, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the FAA.

With the base standards essentially complete, the committee’s focus has shifted to continuous improvement and enhancing consumer safety. For example, the committee is creating a document that will act much the same as an FAA Form 337 for approval of major aircraft changes and repairs. Currently no such uniform documentation exists, which creates confusion for customers and mechanics when undertaking repairs and major alterations.

Also discussed was a ballot issue to prohibit flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). LSA equipped to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) are not prohibited.