Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification Becomes a Final Rule

More than a decade of hard work, legal setbacks, and community advocacy has finally come to fruition, with the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) legislation officially becoming a final rule on October 22, 2025. Since around three-quarters of the entire general aviation fleet now falls under the sport aviation category, we can confidently say that MOSAIC was well worth the wait.

The rule was publicly announced in July 2025 by Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, during the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show. He set the October 22 date as the initial effective date, with additional reforms scheduled for July 2026.

MOSAIC replaces the older 2004 Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) regulations and was developed through years of hands-on collaboration with industry groups, including the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

Under the new rule, weight-based restrictions for LSAs are ditched for performance criteria. Aircraft must have a clean stall speed (VS1) no greater than 61 knots calibrated airspeed, and although up to four seats are allowed, sport pilots may fly only themselves and one passenger. Additional capabilities previously unavailable to sport pilots, such as controllable-pitch propellers or retractable landing gear, are now allowed with proper endorsements and training.

One of the more visible operational changes is the fact that many vintage single-engine aircraft previously excluded by weight limits are now eligible under MOSAIC. The Cessna 140 and 150, Piper Cherokee, Diamond series, and countless other planes are now counted as LSAs. This opens up vast opportunities for not just sport pilots, but also flight schools and rental operators.

Medical requirements are modest: daytime operations can be conducted without an FAA medical certificate, as long as the pilot has a valid US driver’s licence and meets certain health criteria. For night operations, the pilot must qualify under BasicMed or hold a standard FAA medical certificate and receive the required training. MOSAIC also adds simulation-training flexibility, allowing up to 2.5 hours of flight-simulation device time toward the sport-pilot certificate.

The next major phase of MOSAIC rolls out in July 2026, including new certification pathways under cFAR 22.180 for simplified-flight-control aircraft. This means more innovative designs, lower certification costs, and broader access for designers and smaller manufacturers to enter the market.

FMI: www.faa.gov