Comments Must Be Received By November 23

The FAA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that supports a crucial EAA ultralight and sport pilot training initiative. The NPRM amends 14 CFR 91.319(e)(2) to allow compensated flight training in experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) in certain circumstances under a letter of deviation authority (LODA).

EAA has long sought an expansion to the FAA’s LODA policy that will allow for more types of training in experimental aircraft, including limited primary training in certain “low mass, high-drag” types to address a lack of available aircraft for sport pilot and ultralight training. The reform to the E-LSA rule will allow a small number of “grandfathered” operators to continue to provide training, and reverses the removal of E-LSAs from the training fleet, as long as the training is conducted under specific, approved conditions.

“The successful publication of this rule and the accompanying policy change will create new opportunities in ultralight and sport pilot training,” said Tom Charpentier, EAA government relations director. “We see ultralights and light-sport aircraft as an increasingly important pathway into aviation, and we are working with the FAA in a variety of ways to remove unnecessary barriers to access. This is one small but important step in that overall process.”

The revised LODA policy will also improve access to amateur-built aircraft transition training. EAA is working with the FAA to publish the policy as soon as practical, possibly in advance of the final E-LSA training rule. Those wishing to comment on the NPRM may do so before November 23.

(Source: EAA Blog. Image provided)

FMI: nspire.eaa.org