What is a Light Sport Aircraft?

The FAA has defined Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) as a simple to operate, easy to fly aircraft that, since initial certificiation, has continued to meet the following performance definitions:

Light Sport Aircraft may be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under the Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) certification category. Aircraft under this certifification may be used for sport and recreational flying, flight training and aircraft rental.

LSAs may also be licensed as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if built from a kit or from plans. Aircraft under this ceritification may be used only for sport and recreational flying, as well as flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.

The LSA category and class includes: Airplane Land/Sea, Gyroplane, Airship, Ballon, Weight-Shift Control ("Trike") Land/Sea, Glider, and Powered Parachute.