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A Light-sport Aircraft (LSA) category special airworthiness certificate is issued to operate an aircraft that:

• Has not been previously issued an airworthiness certificate or an equivalent airworthiness certificate issued by the U.S. or a foreign civil aviation authority,
• Is in a condition for safe operation,
• Was built and tested to the applicable consensus standards by the aircraft’s manufacturer, and
• Possesses the manufacturer’s statement of compliance.

Aircraft classes meeting the definition of Light Sport Aircraft contained in 14 CFR Section 1.1 that are eligible for LSA category special airworthiness certificates are:

• Airplanes,
• Gliders,
• Powered parachutes,
• Weight-shift-control aircraft (commonly called trikes), and
• Lighter-than-air aircraft (balloons and airships) .

LSA manufactured outside the United States may be issued special airworthiness certificates when proof is provided to show:

• Compliance to the airworthiness regulations 21.190,
• The LSA has been manufactured in a country with which the U.S. has a Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement or BASA with associated IPA or equivalent airworthiness agreement, and
• The aircraft is eligible for an airworthiness certificate or similar certification in its country of manufacture.

Special airworthiness certificates regulations & policies