"Matt Whiting" wrote in message ...

Does anyone know if the Skycatcher will be IFR certified? It doesn't
appear to be from what little I've found at the Cessna web site.


It's my reading of the rules that NONE of the new LSA built planes are FAA
CERTIFIED. They are built to an ASTM "industry consensous" standard. The FAA
has removed themselves from the mirco level regulation, created instead a
LSA framework rule, and it's basically "whatever the manufacturer allows" is
OK.

So while the original Diamond (2 seat) Katana with the Rotax engine was FAA
certified VFR day/nite, its lack of any vac system prevented it from getting
FAA night certification.

The new LSAs have access to a pair of 912 series engines from Rotax. One of
which Rotax allowed for nite ops and the other one it did not, per its ops
manual. The LSA manufacturers must State in their ops manual that nite ops
is permitted by verifying with their component suppliers (who have some sort
of veto power). Once the manufacturer says nite ops is OK (as bound by the
ASTM), then just check the FARs part 91 minimums and go.

Tecnam in leading the new ASTM subcommittee to study IFR requirements and
they are working toward a "consensous standard". Once they agree on a
standard, and the Manufacturers state in their Ops Manuals that the LSA can
operate in IMC (and they need buy-in from their major component suppliers),
the OPINION of some is that the LSA will then be abal to operate in IMC
under IFR by meeting the FARpart 91 minimums.

The FAA has yet to speak up on this. Stay tuned.