Personal aviation is about to get interesting (2023)

9 months ago

The FAA's new MOSAIC rulemaking aims to expand and deregulate the light-sport aircraft (LSA) category to make personal aviation more viable.
The safety continuum in aviation ranges from highly regulated commercial airliners to minimally regulated ultralights, allowing for innovation while maintaining safety.
MOSAIC proposes significant changes, including removing weight limits, increasing speed limits to 250 knots, allowing up to four seats, and permitting simplified flight controls.
Simplified flight controls could enable easier piloting, potentially making personal aviation accessible to more people.
The rule aims to shift pilots from experimental aircraft to LSAs, leveraging their better safety record to reduce overall aviation fatalities.
MOSAIC could spur innovation in electric and hybrid propulsion, including eVTOL aircraft, by removing engine and motor restrictions.
The FAA's approach balances deregulation with safety incentives, encouraging upgrades within the safety continuum.
The rule could revitalize general aviation by lowering manufacturing costs, increasing demand, and accelerating technological advancements.
The policy highlights past regulatory failures in general aviation, suggesting earlier deregulation could have prevented stagnation.
Public comments on MOSAIC are open until January 2024, with the rule expected to take effect shortly after.

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