Darkest before the dawn? I hear growing concern about the\u00a0FAA\u2019s new Mosaic regulation\u00a0and what it will or won\u2019t do.<\/p>\n
An increasing number of comments I hear are variations of these words: \u201cThe FAA is never going to get this done, and if they do, it will be a crappy rule.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why so glum?<\/p>\n
Maybe pilots are frustrated because the FAA has delayed the release of Mosaic, which stands for Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates. This also happened almost 20 years ago with the Sport Pilot\/Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. SP\/LSA was anticipated for more than three years after the first announcement.<\/p>\n
However, Mosaic is coming and this time we know more about it than most regulations. Why? Because the FAA must involve ASTM committee members along the way.<\/p>\n
Earlier FAA rule writers did not reveal their work as broadly. Yet FAA officials are sufficiently pleased with\u00a0industry consensus standards, ASTM\u2019s work, that they will use it on the next generation of GA aircraft (think: Cessna, Cirrus, etc.).<\/p>\n
<\/center>Mosaic LSA standards can\u2019t be written after the FAA releases the rule because then we\u2019d have even more delay. So, FAA officials provide some details to ASTM and in this way we get some idea of what\u2019s ahead.<\/p>\n
Progress continues on Van\u2019s Aircraft\u2019s high-wing RV-15 as Van\u2019s Aircraft personnel actively work on ASTM standards. This gives the company\u2019s engineers details about what is likely under Mosaic. Everyone is guessing, but informed guesses are better than mere opinions.<\/p>\n
Naturally, Van\u2019s isn\u2019t the only company aware of what the FAA is planning. Any other company or individual who participates on the ASTM committee can know most of the same information. Indeed, this is where I get most of my knowledge about Mosaic.<\/p>\n