If It's Not LSA, What Is It?

Last edited: 11 May 2022, 12:00pm

Building on last issue’s topic of ‘Aren’t all RAAus aircraft Light Sport Aircraft’, in this article we ask the question - if it’s not an LSA, what is it?

Understanding the differences is important as operational and maintenance requirements differ between the certification bases. Confusion does come about especially when some of the early Jabiru models, for example, were called the LSA 55/2K, LSA 55/2J and the LSA 55/3J. These aircraft are not Light Sport Aircraft. They are type certified. What does this mean and why do I need to know this? There are three streams of aircraft registration types: 1. Amateur Built 2. Light Sport Aircraft/Experimental Light Sport Aircraft 3. Type Certified/Accepted IF IT’S NOT LSA, WHAT IS IT?

The prefixes have a purpose, which is to identify the certification basis. Prior to 2016, the 23-XXXX prefix for LSA did not exist. This prefix was established in the updated Technical Manual version 4. Type certified/accepted aircraft and LSA were issued with the 24-XXXX prefix prior to the update. Therefore, to quickly determine your certification basis for a 24-XXXX registered aircraft, check your registration certificate and review the construction field. This will state LSA or Type Certified. If the aircraft is LSA you must ensure the Special Certificate of Airworthiness is read, understood and onboard the aircraft. What does type certified mean? An aircraft is type certified when the make, model has been issued.

The aircraft types are issued the below prefixes

PREFIX	TYPE	CAO CLASS
E24	NON-COMPLIANT EXPERIMENTAL LSA	95.32 OR 95.55
E23	NON-COMPLIANT EXPERIMENTAL LSA	95.32 OR 95.55
10	AMATEUR BUILT (Single Seat 300Kg MTOW)	95.10
19	AMATEUR BUILT	95.55
23	LSA	95.32 OR 95.55
24	FACTORY BUILT TYPE ACCEPTED	95.55
25	EARLY ULTRALIGHT AEROPLANES (1985 ERA)	95.25 (SUPERCEDED)
28	EARLY AMATEUR BUILT	101.28
32	FACTORY BUILT WEIGHT SHIFT OR POWERED PARACHUTE	95.32 W/S OR PPC (including LSA)
55	FACTORY BUILT AEROPLANE	101.55 (non LSA)

What does type certified mean?

An aircraft is type certified when the make, model has been issued with a type certificate by a National Airworthiness Authority (NAA) such as CASA, EASA, the FAA or a competent issuing authority. A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (‘type’). It confirms that the aircraft is manufactured according to an approved design, and that the design ensures compliance with airworthiness requirements. The type certificate will list compliance data such as the approved engine and propeller combinations. The type certificate also lists the MTOW permissible. In some cases, the pilots operating handbook lists with a type certificate by a National Airworthiness Authority (NAA) such as CASA, EASA, the FAA or a competent issuing authority. A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (‘type’). It confirms that the aircraft is manufactured according to an approved design, and that the design ensures compliance with airworthiness requirements. The type certificate will list compliance data such as the approved engine and propeller combinations. The type certificate also lists the MTOW permissible. In some cases, the pilots operating handbook lists

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