A dozen years ago, at the beginning of September 2004, FAA’s newest regulation became “effective” as the agency terms it. That regulation gave birth to Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft. The former is a new pilot certificate and the latter is a fresh breed of aircraft that gained acceptance in a completely new way.

How is it going on the 12th birthday of the new category?

Accepted Not Certified

Regarding the airplane side of the new regulations, the change was major in that FAA does not “certify” these factory-manufactured airplanes, altering a procedure in place for many decades. Pilots and even the manufacturers are so used to employing that word that many today say their new LSA was certified when, to be precise, it was not.

The ASTM industry consensus standards to which a new aircraft must show compliance has been “accepted” by the FAA and an individual airplane is inspected by an FAA or a civilian designee (most often the latter) after which it receives a “Special Airworthiness” certificate.

Each new aircraft is inspected — they are not approved when they leave the factory as with a new Cessna or Cirrus.

With the inspector blessing, a newly minted LSA can be used by an owner according to the regulation, with activities including recreational use, flight instruction for compensation, rental, and leaseback.