m CAUTION: If an Airworthiness Directive (AD)
requires compliance before further flight and does
not have a provision for issuance of a special flight
permit, the operation of the aircraft to which it
applies would not be appropriate, and a special flight
permit will not be issued.
Foreign-registered Civil Aircraft
A special flight authorization allows a foreign-
registered civil aircraft that does not have the equiva-
lent of a U.S. standard airworthiness certificate to be
operated within the United States.
A civil aircraft registered in a country that is a mem-
ber of the International Civil Aviation Organzation
(ICAO) only needs a special flight authorization issu-
ed by the FAA. A civil aircraft registered in a country
that is not a member of ICAO must have both an
authorization from the United States Department of
Transportation (DOT) and a special flight
authorization issued by the FAA.
obtaining a special Flight Authorization
To obtain a special flight authorization, you must
apply by letter or facsimile. The application and
issuance procedures are provided in FAA Order
8130.2 (as revised), Airworthiness Certification of
Aircraft and Related Products, Chapter 7, Special
Flight Authorizations for Non-U.S.-Registered Civil
Aircraft. You can obtain assistance and the necessary
forms for issuance of a special flight authorization
from the local FSDO or IFO.
Application for Airworthiness Certificate
A special flight permit is an FAA Form 8130-7,
Special Airworthiness Certificate, issued pursuant
to 14 CFR part 21, section 21.197, for an aircraft
that may not currently meet applicable airworthi-
ness requirements but is safe for a specific flight.
m CAUTION: A special flight permit is not an
authorization to deviate from the requirements of 14
CFR part 91.
An applicant for a special flight permit must submit
FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness
Certificate, including a statement indicating:
• Purpose of the flight;
• Proposed itinerary;
• Essential crew required to operate the aircraft;
• The ways, if any, in which the aircraft does not
comply with the applicable airworthiness
requirements; and
• Any other information requested by the
Administrator, considered necessary for the
purpose of prescribing operating limitations.
You should fax the completed form to the FSDO
closest to the location where the flight will originate.
You can locate contact information for the FSDO on
the FAA website at www.faa.gov. Figure 5-1 at the
end of this chapter is a sample FAA Form 8130-6.
Some FSDOs may ask you to include additional
information necessary for the purpose of prescribing
operating limitations when you submit FAA Form
8130-6. Examples of additional information might
include:
• A current copy of the Airworthiness Certificate.
• A current copy of the Certificate of Aircraft
Registration.
• A current copy of the front page of the aircraft
and engine(s) logbooks, with all entries com-
pleted, (i.e., aircraft, engine(s), propeller(s),
manufacturer, model, serial number).
• A current copy of the Aircraft/Engine/Propeller/
Appliance AD compliance status.
• A copy of the last Aircraft Log Book entry, stating
that the aircraft has been inspected and is in a
safe condition to fly/ferry, that the aircraft
is in compliance with all applicable ADs, and/or
a listing of the ADs with which the aircraft is not
in compliance. The entry must be signed by an
A&P mechanic or 14 CFR part 145 repair station.
The Administrator may also want to inspect the
aircraft in question before approving or issuing
a ferry flight permit.
You may be required to make appropriate inspections
or tests necessary for safety. (This means an A&P
mechanic or 14 CFR part 145 repair station will need
to inspect the aircraft prior to flight.)
You may request that the local FSDO transmit the
ferry permit via facsimile if the request is time-
sensitive. Figure 5-2 at the end of this chapter is
a sample FAA Form 8130-7.
The aircraft operator must display, in the aircraft, the
current airworthiness certificate and the special flight
(ferry) permit along with its operating limitations.
For additional information, please refer to 14 CFR
part 21, section 21.197, or your local FSDO.
Plane SensePlane Sense
Chapter 5: Special Flight Permits
Figure 5-1. FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate. You can obtain instructions for
completing FAA Form 8130-6 on the FAA website at www.faa.gov or from your local FSDO.
2-26-2003 SW 15
SAMPLE
Joe Pilot
Plane SensePlane Sense
Figure 5-1. Form 8130-6 (page 2 of 2).
Jane A. Aviator
JANE A. AVIATOR 1012 CIRRUS AVE., SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA 74852
CESSNA C-182L
182-500000 N122A
2-26-2008 10 DAYS
SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
DIRECT
DOWNTOWN AIRPARK, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
2-26-2008 JANE A. AVIATOR
ANNUAL INSPECTION
AIRCRAFT INSPECTION AND LOGBOOK ENTRY
SAMPLE
Plane SensePlane Sense
Chapter 5: Special Flight Permits
SAMPLE
SAMPLE
Figure 5-2. FAA Form 8130-7, Special Airworthiness Certificate. The FAA issues FAA Form 8130-7,
Special Airworthiness Certificate, as a special flight permit.
SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT
MAINTENANCE
N/A
N/A
SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
DOWNTOWN AIRPARK, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
CESSNA
03-01-96
03-01-96
C-182L
04-01-99
OKC-MIDO-41Darrel A. Freeman
Plane SensePlane Sense
Plane Sense
ight-sport aircraft (LSA) is a growing sector of the general aviation community, specific
to the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) promulgated sport pilot
(SP)/LSA regulations in 2004. This significant change in Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) allowed easier and lower-cost access to general aviation.
definition
LSA as defined in 14 CFR part 1, section 1.1, “means an aircraft, other than a helicopter or
powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:
(1) A maximum takeoff weight of not more than—
(i) 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on water; or
(ii) 1,430 pounds (650 kilograms) for an aircraft intended for operation on water.
(2) A maximum airspeed in level flight with maximum continuous power (VH) of not more
than 120 knots CAS under standard atmospheric conditions at sea level.
(3) A maximum never-exceed speed (VNE) of not more than 120 knots CAS for a glider.
(4) A maximum stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed without the use of lift-
enhancing devices (VS1) of not more than 45 knots CAS at the aircraft’s maximum certificated
takeoff weight and most critical center of gravity.
(5) A maximum seating capacity of no more than two persons, including the pilot.
(6) A single, reciprocating engine, if powered.
(7) A fixed or ground-adjustable propeller if a powered aircraft other than a powered glider.
(8) A fixed or autofeathering propeller system if a powered glider.
(9) A fixed-pitch, semi-rigid, teetering, two-blade rotor system, if a gyroplane.
(10) A nonpressurized cabin, if equipped with a cabin.
(11) Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider.
(12) Fixed or retractable landing gear, or a hull, for an aircraft intended for operation
on water.
(13) Fixed or retractable landing gear for a glider.”
lsA Certification
Several different kinds of aircraft may be certificated as LSA. Airplanes (both powered and
gliders), rotorcraft (gyroplanes only, not true for helicopters), powered parachutes, weight-shift
control aircraft, and lighter-than-air craft (free balloons and airships) may all be certificated
as LSA if they fall within weight and other guidelines established by the FAA.
light-sport Aircraft