INTRODUCTION
Much to do with aviation is about weight – unlike a road vehicle, weight is very important in aircraft. All aircraft of whatever type (from small single engine planes to Airbus A380s) have a maximum permitted (or certified) take-off weight, or MTOW. This weight includes the aircraft itself, the pilot and passenger(s), luggage, fuel, in fact everything.
This weight is calculated by the designers to be the maximum safe limit for the aircraft, to avoid overstressing, bending and/or breaking the wings and other components during flight. This weight is also a function of other items, like climb performance, landing and takeoff performance and speed. The faster the aircraft goes, the more stress loads are experienced during turbulence, turns and landing. So the faster it will fly, the stronger it has to be to carry the same load as a slower aircraft.
However, making an aircraft stronger also means making it heavier and more expensive. For an airliner, this is not so much of a problem. But for very light aircraft, which have strict weight limits, this can present interesting design challenges.
As a result, light aircraft in Australia have different classifications according to their maximum weight limits.
RECREATIONAL AIRCRAFT
Many of the definitions of particular types of light aircraft center mostly but not entirely round weight limits. So to be registered in Australia, a Recreational Aircraft must conform to the specifications shown below, irrespective of what the designer and manufacturer specify. For example, they may be designed to carry more weight, but to fly legally as a Recreational Aircraft, they must not be flown over the legal weight limit for these types of aircraft.
The original idea behind these aircraft was that they have much less weight, and have a slow speed capability and therefore much less inertia than a more conventional General Aviation (Cessna, Piper etc) aircraft and so in an accident are (a) less likely to hurt their occupants, and (b) damage property or people on the ground.
Recreational Aircraft in Australia are administered by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) based in Canberra.
At the present time (October 2019) recreational aircraft requirements are:
- there is no maximum speed limit for certified recreational aircraft in Australia
- retractable landing gear may be fitted and used.
- in-flight variable pitch propellers may be used.
Factory-built A22L Foxbat and A22L2 Foxbat both conform to Recreational Aircraft certification and are therefore licensed through RAAus in Australia. If built from a kit, these aircraft can be registered with either CASA or RAAus in the 'experimental' category.
WHAT IS A LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA)?
Back in 2000, aviation authorities in the USA devised a new category of aircraft – Light Sport Aircraft (or LSA) – in an effort to reduce the costs of learning to fly and buying an aircraft. This was achieved by publishing an extensive series of ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards to which these aircraft should be built, their flying characteristics conform to, and many other aspects. Provided the manufacturer accepts liability – quite a major item in USA – in return, the comprehensive and expensive General Aviation certificate of airworthiness was waived.
In 2006 Australian Authorities adopted the same ASTM standards and LSA principle, albeit with some differences in aircraft limitations. In May 2006 the Evektor SportStar was the very first LSA ever to be certified in Australia (which at the time was imported by SilverWing Aviation).
LSAs in Australia are administered both by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and by the Civil Aviation safety Authority (CASA). The owner may choose which route to register, depending on their flying license and flying requirements.
Australian LSAs must conform to at least the following basic standards/limitations. Please note, these limitations are sometimes different from USA limits.
Light Sport Aircraft – basic limitations
MTOW (land plane, 2-seats) 600 kgs, or less if the manufacturer specifies
MTOW (sea plane, 2-seats) 650 kgs, or less if the manufacturer specifies
Maximum empty weight (no fuel/people/luggage) is calculated by special formula, but typically around 380-390 kgs
Maximum number of seats: 2
Maximum stalling speed with flaps, engine idle: 45 knots
Maximum cruise speed at maximum power, straight & level: 120 knots
Number of engines: 1 piston engine
Number of propellers: 1
No retractable landing gear (except for water craft, which may have 'repositionable' landing gear)
Much to do with aviation is about weight – unlike a road vehicle, weight is very important in aircraft. All aircraft of whatever type (from small single engine planes to Airbus A380s) have a maximum permitted (or certified) take-off weight, or MTOW. This weight includes the aircraft itself, the pilot and passenger(s), luggage, fuel, in fact everything.
This weight is calculated by the designers to be the maximum safe limit for the aircraft, to avoid overstressing, bending and/or breaking the wings and other components during flight. This weight is also a function of other items, like climb performance, landing and takeoff performance and speed. The faster the aircraft goes, the more stress loads are experienced during turbulence, turns and landing. So the faster it will fly, the stronger it has to be to carry the same load as a slower aircraft.
However, making an aircraft stronger also means making it heavier and more expensive. For an airliner, this is not so much of a problem. But for very light aircraft, which have strict weight limits, this can present interesting design challenges.
As a result, light aircraft in Australia have different classifications according to their maximum weight limits.
RECREATIONAL AIRCRAFT
Many of the definitions of particular types of light aircraft center mostly but not entirely round weight limits. So to be registered in Australia, a Recreational Aircraft must conform to the specifications shown below, irrespective of what the designer and manufacturer specify. For example, they may be designed to carry more weight, but to fly legally as a Recreational Aircraft, they must not be flown over the legal weight limit for these types of aircraft.
The original idea behind these aircraft was that they have much less weight, and have a slow speed capability and therefore much less inertia than a more conventional General Aviation (Cessna, Piper etc) aircraft and so in an accident are (a) less likely to hurt their occupants, and (b) damage property or people on the ground.
Recreational Aircraft in Australia are administered by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) based in Canberra.
At the present time (October 2019) recreational aircraft requirements are:
- there is no maximum speed limit for certified recreational aircraft in Australia
- retractable landing gear may be fitted and used.
- in-flight variable pitch propellers may be used.
Factory-built A22L Foxbat and A22L2 Foxbat both conform to Recreational Aircraft certification and are therefore licensed through RAAus in Australia. If built from a kit, these aircraft can be registered with either CASA or RAAus in the 'experimental' category.
WHAT IS A LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA)?
Back in 2000, aviation authorities in the USA devised a new category of aircraft – Light Sport Aircraft (or LSA) – in an effort to reduce the costs of learning to fly and buying an aircraft. This was achieved by publishing an extensive series of ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards to which these aircraft should be built, their flying characteristics conform to, and many other aspects. Provided the manufacturer accepts liability – quite a major item in USA – in return, the comprehensive and expensive General Aviation certificate of airworthiness was waived.
In 2006 Australian Authorities adopted the same ASTM standards and LSA principle, albeit with some differences in aircraft limitations. In May 2006 the Evektor SportStar was the very first LSA ever to be certified in Australia (which at the time was imported by SilverWing Aviation).
LSAs in Australia are administered both by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and by the Civil Aviation safety Authority (CASA). The owner may choose which route to register, depending on their flying license and flying requirements.
Australian LSAs must conform to at least the following basic standards/limitations. Please note, these limitations are sometimes different from USA limits.
Light Sport Aircraft – basic limitations
MTOW (land plane, 2-seats) 600 kgs, or less if the manufacturer specifies
MTOW (sea plane, 2-seats) 650 kgs, or less if the manufacturer specifies
Maximum empty weight (no fuel/people/luggage) is calculated by special formula, but typically around 380-390 kgs
Maximum number of seats: 2
Maximum stalling speed with flaps, engine idle: 45 knots
Maximum cruise speed at maximum power, straight & level: 120 knots
Number of engines: 1 piston engine
Number of propellers: 1
No retractable landing gear (except for water craft, which may have 'repositionable' landing gear)