Special Light Sport Aircraft Will Require Manufacturer Approval For The Installation Of ADS-B And Angle Of Attack Indicators

Aircraft that are certificated as special light sport aircraft (S-LSA) must have a pathway established by the aircraft manufacturer for the installation of ADS-B. The FAA is also urging these manufacturers to establish similar pathways for the installation of angle of attack indicators.

AOPA’s Elizabeth A Tennyson wrote, “The FAA’s Small Aircraft Directorate sent 65 SLSA manufacturers a letter encouraging them develop plans for the installation and airworthiness approval of ADS-B Out equipment and an attachment providing equipment certification and installation information. The letter also asked the manufacturers to promote the installation of angle of attack indicators in new and existing aircraft as a way to reduce general aviation loss-of-control accidents…a priority for the FAA, industry, and the National Transportation Safety Board.”

It’s important to remember that S-LSA’s are certificated by complying with industry standards for certification developed through the ASTM committee process. This means that owners of these aircraft must have the manufacturers develop a system for the installation of equipment that was not part of the original certification.

An aircraft that holds a standard airworthiness certificate can have this additional equipment installed through a certified maintenance process. For example, if you own a Cessna 172 and want to change out the avionics for the purpose of ADS-B, it can be done through your local FAA approved avionics shop… Cessna doesn’t get involved.

However, that is not the case with an S-LSA because it holds a special airworthiness certificate. The manufacturer must provide an approved pathway for the installation and issue a letter that allows the installation. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to assure that the aircraft remains in compliance with the FAA accepted industry ASTM consensus standards when they approve the installation of alternative avionics.

Tennyson also wrote, “The letter also noted that the ADS-B equipment to be installed must meet the “performance” requirements of the technical standard order (TSO) for ADS-B Out, meaning TSO approval is not necessary.”

Here’s the bottom line; owners of S-LSA’s that want their airplanes to remain in that certification status need to work with the manufacturers to determine how they will comply with ADS-B requirements, or for the installation of other equipment such as an angle of attack indicator.

FMI: www.faa.gov www.aopa.org