Why Aren’t Cessna 140s/150s Considered Light Sport Aircraft?

If the MOSAIC NPRM transitions to an official rule, several of the aircraft that currently make up the training fleet, such as the Cessna 150, could be legally flown with a sport pilot certificate. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Question: I understand MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) is in the works and it will increase the weight limit on light sport aircraft (LSA) from 1,320 pounds to 3,600 pounds. That makes some of us wonder why the Cessna 140 and Cessna 150 can’t be flown as LSA right now. They are both two-place and have a stall speed of less than 51 mph. Wouldn't it be possible to fly them at 1,320 pounds to make them legal to fly as LSAs as the rule stands?

Answer: The LSA rule as it stands limits aircraft to a gross weight of 1,320 pounds for land aircraft.

READ MORE: Pilots Have Questions When It Comes to MOSAIC

Gross weight is determined when the aircraft is certificated. The Cessna 140 GW is 1,450 pounds, and the Cessna 150 is between 1,500 and 1,600 pounds, depending on the year of manufacture. You can take the other seat out and fly partial fuel, and that will make the aircraft lighter, but it won't change the certificated gross weight.

Understand that the LSA rule is under review with MOSAIC, and if approved as written, will increase the gross weight of aircraft to 3,600 pounds.

When that transpires, many of the single-engine light trainers flown today in the utility and normal category will likely become LSA compliant.

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Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.