Light Sport Aircraft Existing Type Certificated Models

A light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and that meets certain regulations, weight and performance limitations which are, in the US, set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA.

In the United States, several distinct groups of aircraft may be flown as light-sport. Existing certificated aircraft and experimental, amateur-built aircraft that fall within the definition listed in 14 CFR1.1 are acceptable, as are aircraft built to an industry consensus standard rather than FAA airworthiness requirements.

Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet the specifications mentioned below may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light-sport aircraft category.

Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.

Some models of the classic and nostalgic airplanes such as the Piper Cub, Aeronca, Ercoupe, Interstate, Luscombe, and Taylorcraft meet the criteria of a LSA and may be flown by sport pilots.