A Sign Of Things To Come? FAA's AIR-200 Grounds A Mfr's Ability To Produce E-LSAs and S-LSAs

ANN is monitoring reports and documentation received in the last few hours that signals the possible beginning of a serious crackdown on manufacturers of Light Sport Aircraft. Originating with the FAA's AIR-200 office, this is the second time in a month that the Feds, (and this office in particular) seem to be flexing their muscles and letting the aviation business know who's boss.

In mid-August, AIR-200 was responsible for 'draconian' processes that severely affected a  number of heavier warbirds (operating under Exhibition certificates) and now, we find out that one of the first of a series of "LSA Super-Audits" has resulted in the FAA's taking away the manufacturer's ability to sell products under E-LSA and S-LSA programs. 

Worse than that, we are warned by several sources that this is the first of a number of such actions that we're likely to see.

An August 30th Memo sent to "All Manufacturing Inspection Offices All Manufacturing District/Satellite Offices, All Certificate Management Offices/Units, All Flight Standards Divisions, All Flight Standards District Offices, and all Aircraft Registration Branch AFS-750 (with an additional notation recommending the memo's dissemination to "appropriate designees"), Terry Allen, the Acting Manager, Production and Airworthiness, for AIR-200. Allen appears to making good on the FAA's promise/threat (issued last year after touring LSA facilities throughout the nation) to step up the surveillance and involvement in the LSA industry. 

Using a "prototype LSA Audit Program", the FAA inspected Criquet Aviation USA, Inc., the manufacturers of the Storch FI-156 LSA. The result of this July 13 th audit, one of the first of its kind, was the rescinding of Criquet Aviation's ability to offer products with Special Flight Permits, S-LSA or E-LSA airworthiness certificates. In other words... grounded.

The Memo states that, "This memorandum prohibits the issuance of special flight permits, special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) and experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) airworthiness certificates to all Storch FI-156 airplanes manufactured by Criquet Aviation USA, Inc.

"On July 13th 2011 , the Production and Airworthiness Division, AIR-200, conducted a prototype of a national light-sport aircraft audit program at U-Fly-It, LSA, LLC. The prototype audit results indicated that U-Fly-It LSA and Criquet Aviation USA were unable to demonstrate that the current manufacturing and re-assembly system for aircraft model Storch FI-156 is in compliance with all FAA accepted consensus standards and regulatory requirements. The FAA has determined that a potential safety of flight issue may exist with Storch FI-156 models manufactured by Criquet Aviation USA, Inc.

"Effectively immediately, no Special Flight Permits, S-LSA or E-LSA airworthiness certificates will be issued to any Storch FI-156 airplane manufactured by Criquet Aviation USA, Inc., until further notice from AIR-200."

Inside sources indicate that the FAA has been threatening a "Get Tough" policy with the LSA industry since informal visits last year caught their attention and apparent disapproval. ANN has been specifically advised to expect "more of the same" and that the issues seen in the Criquet Aviation audit may not be all that unique to the company involvement. ANN is currently seeking additional information and is undertaking an investigation into the issues implied by these recent FAA decisions. Stay Tuned...

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/air/hq/prod_airworthiness/, www.criquetaviation.com