Sun, Jul 23, 2006
Aims To Help With Insurance, Financing
In addition to providing pilots with
a less-costly option for taking to the skies, the Light Sport
Aircraft (LSA) movement is also a benchmark program that allows
manufacturers to have greater regulatory oversight than every
before.
The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association is well aware of
that -- and while self-regulation means new airplanes are coming to
market sooner, as the saying goes (and with apologies to Stan Lee)
with great power comes great responsibility.
It is with this in mind that LAMA announced this week an
industry-based, voluntary standards compliance auditing program for
LSA manufacturers. According to LAMA, the audit program provides an
independent third-party review of a manufacturer’s
documentation and production procedures.
Currently, LSA manufacturers declare they have meet ASTM
standards for design, performance, testing and quality assurance
for their aircraft production, instead of the more rigorous -- and
far more expensive -- FAA type- or
production-certification.
By conducting an external audit, LAMA states, a manufacturer
demonstrates its commitment to complying with the ASTM standards
specifically developed for the FAA Light Sport rule.
“Independent auditing is consistent with FAA’s
desire for the light aviation industry to self-regulate,”
said LAMA President Tom Gunnarson. “LAMA provides this
service to its members as a low-cost method to increase the level
of safety for this burgeoning industry.”
Under the program, an audited LSA manufacturer will be
automatically enrolled in the LAMA audit promotional and safety
programs for the next two years as an accredited company. LAMA will
provide recognition for audited companies on the LAMA website and
other sources.
Additional benefits are expected in the areas of insurance and
financing... two hurdles still facing more widespread acceptance of
light sport planes.
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