Many Aircraft That Are Ideal For Light Sport Operation Carry An Experimental Airworthiness Certificate; But What Does That Mean?

The most common experimental airworthiness certificate is the one that is issued to homebuilt aircraft or experimental light sport airplanes. However, this is not the only type of experimental certification, and it’s important to read the fine print on the airworthiness certificate and to review operating limitations for the aircraft before considering ownership.

The FAA issues two types of airworthiness certificates: a standard certificate and a special certificate. The standard certificate is issued to an aircraft that is built in accordance with FAA regulations. Under today’s regulations, these would be FAR 23 or FAR 25. However, there many airplanes out there holding airworthiness certificates from other FAA standards issued in days gone by that are still valid.

An experimental airplane carries a special airworthiness certificate. The special airworthiness certificate is issued for aircraft that have not shown compliance with FAA design, testing, and manufacturing standards. An example of these would be an experimental-amateur built aircraft and a special-light sport airplane. However, not all aircraft with an experimental airworthiness certificate are the same.

Experimental airworthiness certificates actually come in 9 subdivisions referred to as “purpose.” Each one of these purpose subdivisions will carry its own operating limitations, some of which can be extremely limiting resulting in the airplane not being practical for recreational flying. These experimental purpose subdivisions are:

• Research and development
• Showing compliance with regulations
• Crew training
• Exhibition
• Air racing
• Market surveys
• Operating amateur-built
• Operating primary category kit-built aircraft
• Operating light-sport aircraft

An airplane issued a special airworthiness certificate is also issued operating limitations that are created by the FAA and are considered part of the airworthiness certificate itself. The operating limitations of the different experimental purpose categories are quite different from each other.  Operating limitations issued with a special airworthiness certificate may carry numerous limitations that are not found in the regulations. These limitations and stipulations not only apply to the airplane, they also may apply to the pilot operating the aircraft.

If you are considering ownership of an airplane with an experimental airworthiness certificate, make sure you understand the purpose classification and carefully read the operating limitations.

(Image of experimental Zodiac 601 XL-B from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/