Light-Sport Repairman: Details on the new ruling

What can a light sport repairman with an inspection rating do? First off, this certificate is issued only to the owner of an experimental, operating a light-sport aircraft. This will allow the owner to perform the annual condition inspection required by his or her aircraft's operating limitations. Each FAA repairman certificate will identify his aircraft's registration number and serial number so he can't cheat and do his buddy's inspection.

What are the requirements to become a light-sport repairman with an inspection rating? As I mentioned earlier, the experimental, operating light-sport aircraft airworthiness certificate and the amateur-built airworthiness certificate are similar in form and function. But there is a major difference. The owner/operator of an experimental light-sport aircraft did not build 51 percent of the aircraft like the amateur-built repairman.

What can a light sport repairman with an inspection rating do? First off, this certificate is issued only to the owner of an experimental, operating a light-sport aircraft. This will allow the owner to perform the annual condition inspection required by his or her aircraft's operating limitations. Each FAA repairman certificate will identify his aircraft's registration number and serial number so he can't cheat and do his buddy's inspection.

What are the requirements to become a light-sport repairman with an inspection rating? As I mentioned earlier, the experimental, operating light-sport aircraft airworthiness certificate and the amateur-built airworthiness certificate are similar in form and function. But there is a major difference. The owner/operator of an experimental light-sport aircraft did not build 51 percent of the aircraft like the amateur-built repairman.

So how does the FAA ensure that the owner has the expertise to inspect his or her aircraft and make the determination if it is safe to fly? The answer is the rule requires the owner to get 16 hours of FAA-acceptable training in the class of aircraft that he or she owns.

FAA accepted training for each of the six eligible classes of light sport aircraft will focus on to how the repairman is to inspect the aircraft, not how to maintain it. How so? Remember what I said earlier, the operating limitations for these aircraft, requires an annual condition inspection, not maintenance!

Again, I will risk being accused of beating the point to death. Please remember that the 16-hour course will teach an individual how to inspect his aircraft only, not perform maintenance. This somewhat odd situation has come to be because there are no TC or any other standards for experimental light-sport aircraft. So anyone can remove and replace parts, and perform repairs and alterations on these aircraft because there is no standard of performance for the maintainer to meet.

Some of you argued that 16 hours is not long enough. Others have commented that the training for this rating is eight hours too long. The bottom line is the rule is signed. To qualify, it requires 16 hours of training on the class of aircraft that is owned by the repairman. If it turns out that the time required to train an individual to a level 3 performance level of skill is not right for all or just one particular class of light-sport aircraft, we will change it and make it right.

For your information both the inspection and maintenance rating courses are required to teach to a level 3 instructional level. This level 3 requirement is taken from Part 147 appendix a. This appendix a identifies a level 3 performance as a level where a student can perform the task by demonstrating a high level of skill. In addition, the rule requires that for each rating, each student must pass a written test with a passing grade of 80 percent.

What can a light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating do? For starters, this rating is not limited to just one aircraft like the inspection rating. This rating allows the repairman to perform for hire, annual condition inspections on experimental, operating light-sport aircraft and perform maintenance, including the required annual condition inspections on Special, light-sport aircraft. These privileges are limited to the class of aircraft that the repairman has received training on, as identified on his or her FAA repairman certificate.