EASA CS-VLA is the European Aviation Safety Agency Certification Specification for Very Light Aircraft.
The Very Light Aircraft (VLA) aircraft certification category introduced in 2003 by the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is intended to make it easier and less costly to get full European certification, operation and maintenance of a
general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation service ...
aircraft.
[EASA]
"Easy Access Rules for Very Light Aeroplanes (CS-VLA) (Amendment 1)"
January 24, 2021. The somewhat relaxed certification procedure is available for aircraft satisfying the following criteria:
*
Maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of not more than 750 kg
*One or two seats maximum
*Maximum
Stall speed in the landing configuration (
VS0) of no more than 83 km/h (45
knot
A knot is an intentional complication in Rope, cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including List of hitch knots, hitches, List of bend knots, bends, List of loop knots, loop knots, ...
s)
*Approved only for day-VFR
visual flight rules
In aviation, visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better ...
conditions
*Certified in the Normal Category only, all
aerobatics maneuvers including intentional
spinning are prohibited
The main part of professional pilots training is done on
EASA CS-23 specification, which also allows for flying under
IFR and
NVFR
Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits for operating aircraft. Flight crew licences are regulated by ICAO Annex 1 and issued by the civil aviation authority of each country. CAA’s have to establish that the holder has met a specifi ...
conditions.
See also
*
Light-sport aircraft
A light-sport aircraft (LSA), or light sport aircraft, is a fairly new category of small, lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly. LSAs tend to be heavier and more sophisticated than ultralight (aka "microlight") aircraft, but LSA restrictio ...
*
EASA CS-LSA
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) with responsibility for civil aviation safety. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitorin ...
*
EASA CS-23
*
EASA CS-25
References
External links
CS-VLA in PDF format
The full set of the EASA's Certification Specifications
Ultralight aircraft
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