9/7/2007 Yakima, WA - CubCrafters has received a number of inquiries about this topic recently. The FAA, EAA, and the LSA industry trade group LAMA (the Light Aircraft Manufacturer’s Association) are also very concerned about compliance with this particular limitation for S-LSA certified aircraft. Though there are S-LSA aircraft by other manufacturers that apparently exceed the ‘Maximum Empty Weight’ limitation, ALL CUBCRAFTERS SPORT CUBS, MODELS S1 AND S2, ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THIS IMPORTANT S-LSA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.

In short, the Maximum Empty Weight of a 2-place, 100hp, S-LSA on wheels cannot exceed 890 Lbs in any configuration, including the weight of all optional equipment. If that same light sport airplane is equipped for float operations (i.e. floats are installed), its Maximum Empty Weight is 1,000 Lbs. All of this information, including the correct formulas and calculations, can be found in much greater detail in ASTM 2245: Standard Specification for the Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane. ASTM 2245 is one of several of the “consensus standards” that a manufacturer must comply with to legally certify S-LSA aircraft. For more federal regulatory information, you can go to FAR Part 21, Subpart H Airworthiness Certificates, Section 21.190: Issue of a special airworthiness certificate for a light-sport category aircraft to see where the requirements to issue an S-LSA airworthiness certificate are detailed. Those places in that FAR where “meeting the consensus standard” are called out are in reference to the agreed upon ASTM Standards on Light Sport Aircraft.

There is still more urgent information on the subject coming from LAMA. It sent this “Industry Alert” below - only the second one it has ever issued - to all LSA manufacturers just a few weeks ago on 7.25.07. The “Alert” not only clarifies the certification requirements around weight, but it raises the issue of “non-compliance status and FAA action for both new and existing S-LSA aircraft” if those aircraft ARE NOT in compliance with the Maximum Empty Weight specification or any other certification requirement. Questions are already being raised about how an S-LSA airplane (100hp, 2-place) that weighs more than 890 Lbs empty is “legal” or is going to pass its annual condition inspection, but this IS NOT an issue for CubCrafters-produced light sport aircraft.