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3 Answers

Could a SEL land airpalne commercial pilot fly an LSA?

Asked by: 2010 views
FAA Regulations, Light Sport Aircraft

Hey I was wondering if an SEL airplane commercial pilot could fly an LSA? The research I've been doing says LSA is its own category of aircraft. If that's the case then obviously they couldn't since their certificate would be for airplanes and not LSA.

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3 Answers



  1. Russ Roslewski on Jan 08, 2021

    It depends on your circumstances, but 61.303 has a table with all the combinations that could apply.

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  2. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Jan 08, 2021

    A commercial ASEL is permitted to fly an ASEL LSA.

    I think you may be confusing “category” with “category” 😀 Remember your private pilot knowledge test and that “category” and “class” mean different things depending on whether we are talking about certification of pilots as opposed to certification of aircraft.

    As FAR 1.1 puts it, “As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, [category] means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples include: airplane; rotorcraft; glider; and lighter-than-air”; and
    “As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, [class] means a classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics. Examples include: single engine; multiengine; land; water; gyroplane; helicopter; airship; and free balloon.”

    An light sport land airplane airplane is just an single engine land airplane when it comes to pilot privileges.

    Where you would need something extra is if you want to fly an LSA that you do not have the category and class ratings for. For example, if you are Commercial ASEL and want to fly an LSA seaplane, you would need something more than you already have.

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  3. John D Collins on Jan 08, 2021

    If you are rated for the category and class of airplane and hold a Recreational Pilot certificate or better and comply with the matrix in 61.303 and the specified sections in the matrix.

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