LAMA Awards First LSA Audit Verifications

“How can a buyer have confidence that Light Sport Aircraft manufacturers are really in compliance with the ASTM standards? Who’s guarding the hen house?” EAA’s Bob Warner said his staff is asked that question “every hour of every day,” and he’s glad that now he has an answer. On Thursday morning at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., the first four independent audits of LSA manufacturers were announced. IndUS Aviation, Jihlavan Airplanes/Kappa Aircraft, Flight Design and Aeropro all recently completed the audit process. These manufacturers have complied with a program developed by the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) for third-party verification that all of their data actually meets the ASTM standards. Adam Morrison of Streamline Designs is a member of the verification committee, and said the process is very thorough. “We review all of their calculations and methodology,” he told AVweb. For example, in one audit, questions arose as to whether the data in fact proved that the airplane met the G-force requirement to withstand a hard landing. “We said the data didn’t seem convincing to us, and they were able to show us the actual testing data that in fact did show that it was all okay,” Morrison said.

"How can a buyer have confidence that Light Sport Aircraft manufacturers are really in compliance with the ASTM standards? Who's guarding the hen house?" EAA's Bob Warner said his staff is asked that question "every hour of every day," and he's glad that now he has an answer. On Thursday morning at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., the first four independent audits of LSA manufacturers were announced. IndUS Aviation, Jihlavan Airplanes/Kappa Aircraft, Flight Design and Aeropro all recently completed the audit process. These manufacturers have complied with a program developed by the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) for third-party verification that all of their data actually meets the ASTM standards. Adam Morrison of Streamline Designs is a member of the verification committee, and said the process is very thorough. "We review all of their calculations and methodology," he told AVweb. For example, in one audit, questions arose as to whether the data in fact proved that the airplane met the G-force requirement to withstand a hard landing. "We said the data didn't seem convincing to us, and they were able to show us the actual testing data that in fact did show that it was all okay," Morrison said.

More audits are under way, LAMA Chairman Dan Johnson told AVweb. Manufacturers that have completed the audit can place a numbered decal on each aircraft showing that it is in compliance.