Have You Heard? Big Changes for Light-Sport Aircraft: What the FAA’s New MOSAIC Rule Means for You

If you haven’t heard yet, MOSAIC is done. After more than a decade of hard work and collaboration between the FAA, EAA, manufacturers, and the broader aviation community, the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification has officially been finalized. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon, July 22, during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, delivered by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. And it’s a big deal. This marks the beginning of what many are calling Sport Pilot 2.0—a long-awaited update that’s going to open the skies to a whole new generation of pilots and aircraft.

So, what’s changing? Quite a bit. Starting October 22, 2025, roughly three-quarters of the general aviation fleet will become accessible to sport pilots or those exercising sport pilot privileges. And within a year, we can expect to see newly designed, modern aircraft rolling into the market—without the staggering certification costs that have historically held things up. For context, the original sport pilot and LSA rules—while groundbreaking in their time—were limited by a strict 1,320-pound maximum takeoff weight and a two-seat maximum. That made for some fun “Sunday flyers,” but it limited practical use for training, rental fleets, and serious touring.

MOSAIC gets rid of that weight limit entirely. In its place is a new, performance-based limitation centered around stall speed: 59 knots calibrated airspeed in clean configuration. And that’s not all—aircraft with up to four seats now qualify under the new LSA umbrella, though sport pilots will still be limited to carrying one passenger. Even more exciting, sport pilots will be able to fly aircraft equipped with controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear, provided they receive the proper training and endorsements.

Just as exciting as the expanded privileges is the reform to aircraft certification itself. The original LSA rule proved that modern, safe aircraft could be certified through consensus standards without the need for full FAA type certification. MOSAIC takes that a step further. Aircraft that meet the new LSA definition—up to four seats, constant-speed propellers, retractable gear, and fewer restrictions on powerplants (including electric)—can be brought to market at significantly reduced cost. For these new LSAs (distinct from aircraft eligible for sport pilot operation), the stall speed allowance increases slightly to 61 knots in landing configuration, giving designers more room to innovate without compromising safety.

This is the update many in the aviation world have been waiting years—if not decades—for. Whether you're a sport pilot, a CFI, a kit builder, or just someone who loves accessible flight, MOSAIC represents the kind of smart, safety-conscious progress that opens new doors without adding unnecessary complexity. The final rule is available now for review, and EAA will be publishing a deeper dive into what it all means in the September 2025 issue of Sport Aviation.

After years of limitations and compromises, this feels like the fresh start sport aviation needed. Sport Pilot 2.0 and LSA 2.0 aren’t just clever names—they’re a leap forward in capability, affordability, and freedom to fly. And we’re here for it.

👉 You can read the full MOSAIC final rule HERE.