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Any experience with SLSA-ELSA conversion
- Thread starter AZLeeJay
- Start date
Should not be a problem.
I do them all the time. Basically you have to fill out the paperwork, change the "Light-Sport" placard to "Experimental" and change the passenger warning from "Special Light-Sport" to "Experimental Light-Sport".
You will need an inspection to show that you have not modified the aircraft outside the manufacturer's specs to be exempt from phase I flight testing.
Pretty simple and straight forward.
I do them all the time. Basically you have to fill out the paperwork, change the "Light-Sport" placard to "Experimental" and change the passenger warning from "Special Light-Sport" to "Experimental Light-Sport".
You will need an inspection to show that you have not modified the aircraft outside the manufacturer's specs to be exempt from phase I flight testing.
Pretty simple and straight forward.
Dgamble
Well Known Member
I can't speak to E-AB, but the Phase 1 for the ELSA was five hours. It could also crop up at resale, but that would require a fairly sophisticated buyer to even notice. The cost of ELSA was not being able to a lot of things that would have been done easier during the build rather than waiting until after the inspection.
I Went this Route Before
Several years ago I went from SLSA to ELSA with an Eastern European SLSA I owned at the time. The main advantage for me was being able to perform my own annual condition inspection after taking the required 16 hour class. It was also an advantage to be able to make modifications/parts substitutions without getting manufacturers approval (which was becoming problematic in my case). I thought that it also made the aircraft easier to sell when that time came since many savvy buyers were aware of these same advantages. I was not required to do any Phase 1 testing by the DAR since the aircraft was currently flying.
Several years ago I went from SLSA to ELSA with an Eastern European SLSA I owned at the time. The main advantage for me was being able to perform my own annual condition inspection after taking the required 16 hour class. It was also an advantage to be able to make modifications/parts substitutions without getting manufacturers approval (which was becoming problematic in my case). I thought that it also made the aircraft easier to sell when that time came since many savvy buyers were aware of these same advantages. I was not required to do any Phase 1 testing by the DAR since the aircraft was currently flying.
Stitch462
Well Known Member
Czech SportCruiser (a.k.a., for a very short time, "PiperSport")?
DaleB
Well Known Member
ELSA, a non-builder subsequent owner can obtain a repairman certificate and sign off on his or her own condition inspections.
Plus, I could be wrong, but I don't think there IS a path from S/ELSA to EAB.
You are correct.
Mel would know, but I recall there is no path back to ELSA once the aircraft is moved from ELSA TO EAB. Might also apply to the move from SLSA to ELSA, you can not go back? Just a caution I recall when these aircraft categorizes are moved by their owners. Correct?
There is no path to go from ELSA to EAB. EAB must be an original certification. Going back to SLSA from ELSA is possible but not likely. The original SLSA manufacturer would have to do this, and that's not likely once the aircraft has left his control.
That is correct. However if those same changes were made to an EAB, the airworthiness certificate would remain valid, but it could no longer be flown by a sport-pilot.
Mel,
Universal question on this topic, that is changing dramatically since MOSAIC. I'm looking at a 2015 Carbon Cub that has been operated as a SLSA since it left CubCrafters. The Special Airworthiness Certificate has the Category = Experimental and the Purpose = Operating Light-Sport (Airplane). Is this not an ELSA? My understanding is a SLSA will have Category = Light-Sport and the Purpose = Airplane.
Universal question on this topic, that is changing dramatically since MOSAIC. I'm looking at a 2015 Carbon Cub that has been operated as a SLSA since it left CubCrafters. The Special Airworthiness Certificate has the Category = Experimental and the Purpose = Operating Light-Sport (Airplane). Is this not an ELSA? My understanding is a SLSA will have Category = Light-Sport and the Purpose = Airplane.
Can SLSA still be converted to ELSA under the new MOSAIC?
In the fine print of the CFR for MOSAIC I have been looking at the:
CFR 21.191 Issue of experimental airworthiness certificates.
Experimental airworthiness certificates are issued for the following experimental purposes:
I have deleted parts (a) - (h)
***** THIS IS THE INTERESTING PART:
(i) Operating light-sport aircraft. Operating a light-sport aircraft that—
(1) Has not been issued a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate and does not meet the provisions of § 103.1 of this chapter. An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph (i) for these aircraft after January 31, 2008;
(2) Has been assembled—
(i) From an aircraft kit; and
(ii) In accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet an applicable consensus standard; and
(iii) An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph (i)(2) for these aircraft after October 22, 2025; or
***** IS PART (3) THIS GOING TO PREVENT SLSA -> ELSA?
(3) Has been previously issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category under § 21.190. An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph for these aircraft after October 22, 2025.
(j) [Reserved]
(k) Operating light-sport category kit-built aircraft. Operating an aircraft of a type that has been certificated under § 21.190 and assembled from an aircraft kit in accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet an applicable FAA-accepted consensus standard.
(l) Operating former light-sport category aircraft. Operating an aircraft that previously has been issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category under § 21.190.
In the fine print of the CFR for MOSAIC I have been looking at the:
CFR 21.191 Issue of experimental airworthiness certificates.
Experimental airworthiness certificates are issued for the following experimental purposes:
I have deleted parts (a) - (h)
***** THIS IS THE INTERESTING PART:
(i) Operating light-sport aircraft. Operating a light-sport aircraft that—
(1) Has not been issued a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate and does not meet the provisions of § 103.1 of this chapter. An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph (i) for these aircraft after January 31, 2008;
(2) Has been assembled—
(i) From an aircraft kit; and
(ii) In accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet an applicable consensus standard; and
(iii) An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph (i)(2) for these aircraft after October 22, 2025; or
***** IS PART (3) THIS GOING TO PREVENT SLSA -> ELSA?
(3) Has been previously issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category under § 21.190. An experimental airworthiness certificate will not be issued under this paragraph for these aircraft after October 22, 2025.
(j) [Reserved]
(k) Operating light-sport category kit-built aircraft. Operating an aircraft of a type that has been certificated under § 21.190 and assembled from an aircraft kit in accordance with manufacturer's assembly instructions that meet an applicable FAA-accepted consensus standard.
(l) Operating former light-sport category aircraft. Operating an aircraft that previously has been issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category under § 21.190.
Yes. They've just moved kit-built ELSAs from 21.191(i)(2) to 21.191(k), and the SLSA-to-ELSA conversion from 21.191(i)(3) to the new 21.191(l) (that's lower-case-ell).
Thanks!
MechaSteve
Well Known Member
Those are the next two options, that covers all new E-LSA since the government reopened. In effect now, but still only for the 1320 lbs, or less.
MechaSteve
Well Known Member
