Light sport aircraft industry takes flight on ASTM international standards

The use of ASTM international standards in the new light of sport segment of aviation provides major benefits in both cost and process and the new standard support a new industry that has combined outgrowth of ultra lights and light general aviation. The light sport standards are the product of cooperative effort between ASTM, the FAA, industry, associated users and the potential buyers. The product of this union, ASTM international, the aviation community and the FAA, is a set of standards for design and performance, quality control, continued air worthiness, required information, production acceptance testing and maintenance manuals for each of six different types of aircraft. The new LSA models are continually being developed and are now including competitively priced units as manufacturers embrace the new system. This process works, for light sport aviation considering an alternative of FAA regulations for minor change. Since 2003, F37 committee has completed 29 standards for six types of aircraft and maintained and has also revised standards.