| Sport Pilot News > News Archive
10/14/04 - N-NUMBERS AVAILABLE BEGINNING FRIDAY FOR ULTRALIGHT TRANSITIONING TO E-LSAS
No rush, EAA advises
October 14, 2004 - Beginning Friday, October 15, people who wish to transition their ultralights to experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) and fly them with a sport pilot (or higher) certificate may do so. However, EAA is advising its members to wait until E-LSA airworthiness certificates are available and sport pilot certificates are being issued, both of which you must have before flying a registered aircraft.
Once the FAA issues an N-number, an ultralight becomes a registered aircraft, and the FAA requires all registered aircraft to have an airworthiness certificate. But FAA will not begin issuing E-LSA airworthiness certificates until January 15, 2005. You will also need at least a sport pilot certificate to fly a registered E-LSA, and those will also not be issued until January.
"With FAA's release of the registration form, it is possible to get an N-Number for your ultralight," said EAA Aviation Services Director Charlie Becker. "However EAA is counseling members to wait at this point because without an airworthiness certificate, you're grounded."
By carefully planning when you register your aircraft and obtain a pilot certificate, you can minimize the time between receipt of your N-number, issuance of your airworthiness certificate, and earning a sport pilot certificate.
Registering an ultralight is simple. You need the following forms:
EAA will publish guidance on how to register your ultralight in the December issue of EAA Sport Pilot & Light-Sport aircraft magazine. This information is also available from EAA's Aviation Services department at info@eaa.org. |
