The FAA is investigating the possibility of allowing some fly-for-hire operations using light sport and ultralight aircraft. In a podcast interview at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, on Wednesday, Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, said an FAA representative approached his organization and the U.S. Ultralight Aircraft Association to explore the idea of using little airplanes for commercial uses where appropriate. Johnson said there are plenty of things that LSAs and ultralights can do better and cheaper than other aircraft and the groups are now coming up with a list of them for the FAA. He said he doesn’t know if and when the idea will move forward or what form it might take but the groups will provide the information on “aerial work” as it is known in Europe. “It’s going to be at least a couple of years,” he said.
Although the practice is common in Europe, it’s not entirely foreign to the U.S., where the existing rules allow only aircraft rental and training for hire. “Public use” entities like law enforcement and government agencies can use any kind of aircraft for any purpose they like and they are. The surveillance version of the Flight Design CTLS is a popular choice for some police departments and several are in daily use in the U.S.
