MOSAIC Phase 2 Takes Effect July 24: What Changes for GA Pilots
The FAA's MOSAIC rule enters its second phase on July 24, 2026, eliminating the 1,320-lb weight cap, raising max stall speed to 59 KCAS, and opening light-sport certification to turbine engines, electric propulsion, rotorcraft, and four-seat aircraft.
On July 24, 2026, the FAA's Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification rule enters its second and most consequential phase. Phase 2 reshapes how light-sport category aircraft are designed, certified, and flown — replacing a framework that had remained largely unchanged since 2004.
If you fly light-sport, own an LSA, or have been watching the rule from the sidelines, here is what changes and what it means for your flying.
The Old Rules Are Gone
The original light-sport rule from 2004 set hard limits: aircraft had to weigh under 1,320 pounds at max takeoff weight and stall at no more than 45 knots. Those numbers defined an entire segment of aviation for over two decades.
MOSAIC replaces the weight cap entirely. There is no longer a maximum takeoff weight for light-sport category aircraft. Instead, the FAA now uses a performance-based standard: maximum stall speed of 59 KCAS (up from 45 under the old rule). If the aircraft stalls within that limit, it qualifies — regardless of how much it weighs.
Why the change matters: The old weight limit forced manufacturers to design around an arbitrary number that had nothing to do with actual safety. The stall speed standard is directly tied to landing energy and runway requirements — a much more meaningful metric.
What Phase 2 Actually Changes
Phase 2 is specifically about aircraft certification and manufacturing standards. This is the date when new aircraft designs built to MOSAIC specifications can begin moving through the FAA certification pipeline.
| Specification | Old LSA Rule (2004) | MOSAIC Phase 2 (July 24, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Max takeoff weight | 1,320 lbs | No limit |
| Max stall speed | 45 KCAS | 59 KCAS |
| Max airspeed | 120 KIAS | 250 KTAS |
| Eligible aircraft types | Fixed-wing, weight-shift, powered parachute, glider, gyroplane (limited) | Fixed-wing, weight-shift, powered parachute, glider, gyroplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift |
| Propulsion options | Piston only | Piston, turbine, electric |
| Seating | 2 seats max | Up to 4 seats (sport pilots still limited to 1 passenger) |
New Aircraft Types and Propulsion
Two changes in particular open doors that were firmly closed before.
Turbine and electric engines are now eligible for light-sport category certification. This removes the single biggest regulatory barrier to bringing modern propulsion technology — including electric aircraft — into the certified GA fleet at accessible price points.
Rotorcraft and powered-lift aircraft are now included. Manufacturers developing simplified-control helicopters (SFC category) and eVTOL-adjacent designs now have a certification pathway that didn't exist under the old rule.
What Sport Pilots Can Now Do
Phase 1 (October 2025) already updated sport pilot certification and privileges. Phase 2 builds on that by expanding the aircraft those pilots can legally fly.
With the appropriate training and endorsement, sport pilots may now operate:
- Aircraft with retractable landing gear
- Manually controllable pitch propellers
- Aircraft previously classified as high-performance or complex
- LSA helicopters with simplified flight controls
- Night operations (with FAA medical or BasicMed qualification)
What Existing LSA Owners Need to Know
If you own an aircraft certified under the original LSA rule, your aircraft does not automatically become a MOSAIC-compliant aircraft on July 24. Manufacturers must issue an updated Statement of Compliance (SOC) based on the new consensus standards.
Action item: Contact your aircraft manufacturer to confirm whether an updated SOC will be issued for your model and when. Most major manufacturers have been preparing for this transition and should have clear guidance available by the effective date.
Aircraft that do not receive an updated SOC continue to operate under their existing certification. They do not lose their airworthiness — they simply remain under the original standards rather than the MOSAIC framework.
The Bigger Picture
MOSAIC is the most significant structural change to light-sport aviation since the category was created. By decoupling certification from an arbitrary weight number and anchoring it to actual performance metrics, the FAA has created room for a generation of aircraft designs — heavier, faster, more capable, and potentially electric — to enter the certified fleet.
The first MOSAIC-certified aircraft will not appear overnight. Certification takes time. But the regulatory foundation is now in place, and manufacturers who have been waiting for this date have had years to prepare.
For pilots, the immediate impact is expanded privileges. For the industry, it is an open runway.
Sources: FAA MOSAIC Final Rule, Federal Register July 24, 2025 · FAA MOSAIC Official Page · FAA MOSAIC Fact Sheet