Certification of Light Sport Aircraft

by Lahon DN
(New Delhi, India)

What is the procedure for acceptance of light sport aircraft in the USA?

ANSWER: FAR 21.190(d) pertains specifically to the issuance of special airworthiness certificates for light-sport aircraft manufactured outside the United States.

Aircraft certificated under this section must be manufactured in a country with which the U.S. has a Bilateral Aviation Agreement (BAA) concerning airplanes, a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) with an Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA) concerning airplanes or an equivalent airworthiness agreement.

Additionally, the aircraft must be eligible for an airworthiness certificate, flight authorization, or similar certification in its country of manufacture.

The procedures for certification can be found on this website at:

Light Sport Category Aircraft Airworthiness Certification

What are the FAR rules governing the certification and permit to fly light sport aircraft?

ANSWER: The FAR’s are FAR 21.190, 191, and 193. You can read these rules by clicking on the “FAA Regulations” tab of this website.