Duffy, Rochelau Take the AirVenture Stage to Unveil MOSAIC

Just a day into the world’s largest general aviation celebration, EAA Oshkosh AirVenture, two major US leaders entered the spotlight to give the community a much-delayed Christmas present: Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC). The ruling will go into effect in 2026.

“For too long, our rules have been outdated, holding back our pilots, our builders, and our innovators. It’s been over 20 years since this rule has been updated, but a lot has changed in the last 20 years,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared. “And so that’s why we’re excited to be here today.”

To rewind for a second… The FAA introduced the 1,320-pound maximum takeoff weight for Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) as part of the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft Final Rule in 2004. This has been the guiding principle for the light sport community ever since, supported by a couple of other requirements for seats, gear, and the sort.

Then, we saw a spark of hope when the FAA first seriously addressed the concept of reform by publishing its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for MOSAIC in July 2023. The excitement led many to hope for a final rule at the 2024 Oshkosh AirVenture. Instead, a substantial crowd gathered just to hear rulemakers say that MOSAIC is still kicking and would be live eventually.

So, when Sean Duffy shared that he would be making a BIG announcement at the 2025 AirVenture show, it was hard not to get our hopes up. Luckily, it all played out in the end.

EAA President Jack Pelton, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, and Congressman Sam Graves took the stage midday on July 22 near the four corners. Minutes later, the crowd gave a hearty round of applause after learning that MOSAIC had been finalized, signed, and published.

A surprise in the final MOSAIC requirements is the FAA’s decision to make noise restrictions voluntary rather than mandatory. Manufacturers can choose to get their aircraft compliant through Part 36, conventional noise testing, setting them up to expand overseas, where limitations may be more thoroughly enforced.

FMI: www.faa.gov