LSA for Canada? Rec Council meeting report

By Adam Hunt

The group that gathers together representatives of the various recreational aviation associations in Canada met again on Sept. 27, 2005 in Ottawa. The group has been meeting under the name “Canadian Recreational Aviation Council” - a permanent name has not been finalized.

This meeting had representatives from COPA, Industry Canada, Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association of Canada, Transport Canada, Recreational Aircraft Association, Soaring Association of Canada and the Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada.

One of the key issues back on the table from the first meeting was the question of whether the U.S. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category should also be an aircraft category in Canada.

Over the last year LAMAC has been working on the proposal for a larger aircraft category that would encompass the U.S. style LSA, but the length of time that may take to come into existence has convinced the council to take another look at bringing the LSA to Canada as a new aircraft category sooner.

A working group will complete a request to Transport Canada (TC) for this and submit it at the next council meeting. It is expected this report will call for introducing the LSA category in Canada and also retaining all existing aircraft categories including the AULA.

TC Maintenance and Manufacturing also discussed an upcoming proposal to form a CARAC working group on unifying the various non-certified aircraft categories in Canada including the proposed LSA and LAMAC Personal Aircraft category.

In other developments at the meeting the council confirmed its Mission Statement as:

“The purpose of the group is to promote growth in personal aviation in Canada.

To provide a permanent forum for the assimilation of ideas, concerns and proposals from all segments of the Canadian Recreational Aviation Community and a means of processing these ideas, concerns and proposals so that they may be incorporated into suggestions for change to the regulations or standards.” Furthermore the group affirmed that it is “an informal group that meets as required to discuss issues of interest to Canada’s personal aviation community.”

LAMAC will present a proposal at the next meeting to discuss how their general compliance program for AULA manufacturers can be used as an aid for ensuring that manufacturers comply with the AULA design standards.

The council has also established a provisional safety Committee under the experienced guidance of Ted Slack.

The council supported UPAC’s Kathy Lubitz’s concerns about the future of the Pilot Permit – Ultralight. Lubitz proposed that efforts be undertaken to uncouple the UL Pilot Permit from the AULA aircraft category.

The issue here is the PP-UL, by definition, allows anyone to fly anything that is designated as an AULA. As the category has gained weight from 1058 lbs to the current 1232 lbs there has been increasing concern that the minimum training hours for the permit should be increased to provide greater experience for the heavier aircraft.

If the weight in the category were further increased undoubtedly there would be demands to increase training requirements and therefore cost for this “entry level” permit.

The council supports the current licensing requirements for the Pilot Permit – Ultralight without the need for changing the current 10-hour training requirements. In the interest of safety, the council supports retaining the current limit to the privileges the Pilot Permit – Ultralight, restricting permit holders from flying aircraft any larger than the current basic ultralight 1200 or advanced ultralight 1232 lb limits.

With respect to the 32 lb gross weight differential between basic and advanced ultra-light aeroplanes, the council recommends further discussion within the council before taking a position on this issue.

The council is next scheduled to meet on March 7th, 2006.