First ready-to-fly light-sport airplanes out for delivery
The FAA on Thursday signed off on the final hurdle allowing manufacturers to sell ready-to-fly light-sport airplanes and provided guidance for inspectors to issue airworthiness certificates.
The FAA also announced that it will begin training designated airworthiness representatives (DARs) to issue airworthiness certificates, which will reduce the burden on FAA inspectors and allow manufacturers to expedite aircraft deliveries. Now it's a contest between companies to see who will be the first to deliver a new airplane.
Tom Peghiny, president of the Connecticut-based Flightstar Sportplanes Inc., is hoping he'll be the one at Sun 'n Fun next week in Lakeland, Florida. Peghiny's company imports the German-made Flight Design CT, a slick composite two-seat machine.
Earlier this week, the government-industry group called the ASTM Committee F37 finished the last of the so-called consensus standards to which the industry will be adhering in order to ensure quality in designing and building ready-to-fly airplanes. AOPA is a member of that group. (See AOPA Online's Sport Pilot section for more information on light-sport aircraft.)
April 8, 2005
Related Articles
