Flight Training - August 2024 - 18

PREFLIGHT ASK AOPA
BY CRAIG BROWN
FIRST LOOK
BY KOLLIN STAGNITO
THE LONG ANSWER
WHEN A LIGHT SPORT IS NOT A LIGHT SPORT
AND OTHER CONUNDRUMS
Q: I performed some major alterations to my light sport airplane,
a Luscombe 8A; how do I record those in the logbooks?
A: The short answer is an owner has no such authority; the
airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization
(IA) who did the work must endorse the logbooks.
The long answer: In 2004, the sport pilot regulation first
came into being. The regulation detailed what parameters
an airplane had to meet to have a light sport airworthiness
certificate or to be operated as a light sport airplane by a pilot
exercising sport pilot privileges.
At the time all we had was a regulation; no airplanes
had yet earned airworthiness certificates in the light sport
category. AOPA dug deep into dozens of flight manuals
and pilot's operating handbooks to find which normal
category, standard airworthiness certificate aircraft met the
requirements to be flown under the rule. The Aeronca 7AC,
Piper J-3, and the Luscombe 8A were but a few.
Normal category airplanes that are under 1,320-pound
gross weight, one or two seats, unpressurized, 45 knot stall,
120 knot maximum speed, one engine, fixed-pitch propeller,
and fixed landing gear meet all the parameters required of
a light sport airplane; therefore, they may be flown by sport
pilots or other pilots exercising sport privileges. However,
they retain the normal category, standard airworthiness
certificates.
Light sport repairmen may perform maintenance on
aircraft with light sport airworthiness certificates, but an IA is
required for major alterations to a normal category airplane.
Unless they hold a mechanic certificate, owners are limited to
specific preventive maintenance tasks outlined in Part 43.
With the implementation of MOSAIC (Modernization
of Special Airworthiness Certificates) expected sometime in
early to mid-2025, more airplanes could be added to the list of
light sport qualified. But that does not make them special light
sport airplanes!
CRAIG BROWN is a senior aviation technical specialist in the AOPA Pilot
Information Center.
pilotassist@aopa.org
SHORT-TERM RENTERS
INSURANCE MADE EASY
SKYWATCH OFFERS CONVENIENT
SELF-SERVICE PLATFORM
STUDENTS, PILOTS, AND CFIS CAN PURCHASE SHORTterm
non-owned aircraft insurance policies quickly and
easily at SkyWatch.ai.
Many flight schools require pilots show proof of aircraft
renter's insurance before they can use flight school
aircraft for flight instruction or rental. A phone call to an
aircraft insurance broker or underwriter will typically
yield an annual non-owned aircraft insurance policy
(often referred to as renter's insurance). But if you only
need a short-term policy, SkyWatch offers a convenient
online solution.
SkyWatch, a licensed insurance agent, has been offering
short-term drone insurance for thousands of operators
in the United States for seven years. Building upon that
experience, they began offering non-owned aircraft
policies (underwritten by Global Aerospace Insurance) in
daily, weekly, monthly, or annual increments.
Short-term insurance can be a cost-effective solution
for student pilots whose training might be limited to
several months over the course of a year. For example, a
college student who can only take flying lessons during
summer and winter break. Pilots engaged in advanced
training for a tailwheel endorsement, seaplane rating,
multiengine rating, or instrument rating-which often can
be completed in days, weeks or months-might also find a
short-term policy appealing. And independent CFIs who
teach in multiple aircraft can get short-term coverage for
each aircraft instead of buying annual policies.
The online buying experience is simple. Provide
applicant and aircraft details, choose a coverage period,
and select bodily injury liability, aircraft damage liability,
and medical coverage limits. You can use on-screen
sliders to adjust each option and get pricing in real time
to determine the coverage and cost that best fits your
budget. The entire process takes just a few minutes, and
all necessary documentation is emailed to you and available
on the SkyWatch policy management portal. New
policies are set to auto renew so your coverage won't
expire if you forget to renew. However, you can turn off
auto renewal in the portal.
SkyWatch is also focused on keeping senior pilots
insured, with non-owned aircraft policies obtainable
even after the age of 80. SkyWatch.ai
kollin.stagnito@aopa.org
18
FLIGHT TRAINING AUGUST 2024
http://www.SkyWatch.ai http://www.SkyWatch.ai
Flight Training - August 2024

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