United States

The FAA defines a light sport aircraft as an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered lift, that since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:^[6]

1. Max. gross takeoff weight: 1,320 lbs (600 kg) or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes (650 kg)
2. Max. stall speed: 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) CAS
3. Max. speed in level flight (at sea level In the U.S. Standard Atmosphere): 120 knots (220 km/h; 140 mph) CAS
4. Max. seats: two
5. Max. engines / motors: one (if powered)
6. Propeller: fixed-pitch or ground adjustable
7. Cabin: unpressurized
8. Fixed-pitch, semi-rigid, teetering, two-blade rotor system, if a gyroplane.
9. Landing gear: fixed (except for seaplanes and gliders)

Aircraft licensing

• Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new special light sport aircraft certification category. Aircraft must meet industry consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
• Can be licensed experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
• Can be licensed experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA) if the aircraft has previously been operated as an ultralight but does not meet the FAR Part 103 definition of an ultralight vehicle. These aircraft must have been transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008.
• Will have a standard FAA registration - N-number.
• Category and class includes: airplane (land/sea), gyroplane, airship, balloon, weight-shift-control ("trike", land/sea), glider, and powered parachute.
• U.S. or foreign manufacture of light sport aircraft is authorized.
• Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light sport aircraft category.
• May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.205, if such operations are allowed by the aircraft's operating limitations and the pilot holds at least a private pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.

Europe

In June 2011, the European Aviation Safety Agency published CS-LSA "Certification Specifications for Light Sport Aeroplanes".^[13] This introduced a new category of manufactured sport aeroplanes similar to the light-sport category found in the US and elsewhere.

Australia

A new certification category for 'Light Sport Aircraft' came into effect on 7 January 2006.^[14] This category does not replace the previous categories, but created a new category with the following characteristics:^[15]

• A maximum take-off weight of 600 or 650 kg (1,323 or 1,433 lb) for an aircraft intended and configured for operation on water or 560 kg (1,235 lb) for a lighter-than-air aircraft.
• A maximum stalling speed in the landing configuration (Vso) of 45 kn (83 km/h) CAS.
• Maximum of two occupants, including the pilot.
• A fixed landing gear. A glider may have retractable landing gear. (For an aircraft intended for operation on water, a fixed or repositionable landing gear)
• A single, non-turbine engine fitted with a propeller.
• A non-pressurised cabin.
• If the aircraft is a glider, a maximum never exceed speed (Vne) of 135 kn (250 km/h) CAS

Light-sport aircraft can be factory-manufactured aircraft or kits for amateur-building.

Japan

On 26 December 2022, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau amended the Circular of Aircraft Safety No.1-006 and clarified its own stance on LSA. The significant difference between Japan and other countries described above is that LSA in Japan is defined as a type of Experimental aircraft, i.e., non-certified aircraft, similar to amateur-built aircraft but rather than practical aircraft, i.e., certified aircraft. Permission for Test Flights etc. by Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is necessary to operate LSA in Japan as well as other non-certified aircraft. In order to operate the LSA in Japan, the aircraft, like other non-certified aircraft, requires permission for test flights, etc. from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Because the LSA flight is nominally a test flight of an unknown experimental aircraft, the pilot may not have a license and the flight range is basically restricted to within 3 km of the takeoff/landing point avoiding residential areas. If the pilot of the LSA intends to fly outside of the above range or to land outside of the takeoff point, the pilot must have a Private Pilot license or a higher license and an effective aviation medical certificate. The required characteristics of LSA in Japan are modeled after those of S-LSAs in the United States. On the other hand, the E-LSA classification has not been introduced, so kit-built and plan-built LSAs are regarded as amateur-built aircraft. Imported LSA certified as CS-LSA is considered LSA on an exceptional basis, even if it does not meet the characteristics of LSA in Japan.^[16]

• Maximum gross takeoff weight: 1,320 lbs or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes
• Maximum speed in level flight: 120 kn CAS
• Maximum stall speed: 45 kn CAS
• Maximum seats: two
• Maximum engines: one (reciprocating engine only)
• Propeller: fixed-pitch or ground adjustable
• Cabin: unpressurized
• Landing gear: fixed (except for seaplanes)
• Other requirements： Designed, manufactured, and quality assured by manufacturer and complied to ASTM standards of LSA.