The MOSAIC Era Begins

In today’s email:

• How MOSAIC Is Redefining General Aviation

• Around the Skies: Patriotic pilots wanted for Sun ’n Fun 2026, FAA approves Blackhawk XP66D upgrade, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago gets airspace lockdown, Trump explores shutdown pay for controllers, Archer expands global reach with Korean Air, Former CFI pleads guilty after fatal crash

• PilotTube: Your MOSAIC Questions Answered

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

How MOSAIC Changes the Future of Light Sport Flying

The FAA’s long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule is officially taking flight, marking one of the most significant regulatory shifts in light aviation since the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category was created in 2004. Announced at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, MOSAIC represents more than two decades of collaboration between the FAA and industry groups such as AOPA, EAA and NAFI. The new rule expands opportunities for sport pilots and flight instructors alike, replacing outdated weight limits with performance-based standards and dramatically widening the range of aircraft they can fly.

At the heart of the update is the removal of the old 1,320-pound weight cap for LSAs. In its place, MOSAIC introduces a stall speed limit of 61 knots (59 knots calibrated airspeed for newly certificated aircraft), allowing aircraft with up to four seats, controllable-pitch propellers and retractable landing gear, provided the pilot receives the proper endorsements. In practical terms, this means airplanes like the Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee and even select Diamond and Ercoupe models now fall within sport-pilot reach. The change also opens new opportunities for flight schools to use familiar training aircraft for sport-pilot instruction, potentially lowering barriers to entry for new aviators.

MOSAIC’s effects extend beyond pilots to flight instructors (CFIs) as well. Under the new rules, CFIs with lapsed but not denied or revoked medical certificates may now teach sport-pilot students in any aircraft that qualifies under MOSAIC. This includes issuing most endorsements, such as those for complex aircraft, though night endorsements still require either BasicMed or a valid FAA medical. The rule empowers more instructors to remain active in the community, expanding access to training while keeping safety at the forefront.

The changes that took effect last week on October 22, 2025, primarily affect pilot privileges, training and medical requirements. Aircraft certification updates will follow in July 2026, when the FAA introduces new Part 22 consensus standards that will allow more diverse and capable aircraft to be designed and certificated with less bureaucratic friction. For sport pilots, CFIs and manufacturers alike, MOSAIC marks a new era that blends freedom and innovation within a modernized framework built for the next generation of general aviation.

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ The 2026 Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo is gearing up for a star-spangled celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, inviting pilots with red, white and blue aircraft to join the show with free admission April 14–19 in Lakeland, Florida. Aviators can submit photos of their patriotic rides by March 31 while everyone is encouraged to fly the flag high on airplanes, tents and trailers.

🛩️ The Blackhawk Group has received FAA approval for its new XP66D Engine+ Upgrade on the Daher TBM 700, marking a major milestone in turboprop performance innovation. The upgrade replaces the stock 700-horsepower PT6A-64 with the more powerful 850-horsepower PT6A-66D, enhancing climb performance, cruise speed and overall capability. Early flight tests showed impressive results with the climb to FL310 reduced by six minutes and top cruise speeds reaching 303 KTAS. The first installation is underway in Waco, Texas with another already scheduled in Colorado, signaling strong early demand for Blackhawk’s latest upgrade.

🛩️ The FAA has imposed a new no-fly zone around former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, banning aircraft within one nautical mile until at least October 2026. The restriction, issued for “special security reasons,” requires pilots to obtain clearance and use a discrete air traffic code when operating nearby. Unlike past temporary limits, this one remains active day and night and is expected to alter some flight paths at busy Palm Beach International.

🛩️ As the government shutdown continues, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers are keeping America’s skies moving without pay. President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring legal and executive options to compensate these essential workers while negotiations continue in Washington. The administration hopes to avoid a repeat of 2019 when widespread controller absences brought air travel to a near standstill.

🛩️ Korean Air is taking a bold step into next-generation flight with plans to buy up to 100 Archer Midnight electric air taxis. The partnership makes the airline Archer’s exclusive operator in South Korea, focused on developing eVTOL routes for government and commercial use. Designed for short urban hops, Midnight carries four passengers quietly and efficiently on electric power.

🛩️A former New Jersey flight instructor has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after continuing to teach despite losing his FAA certificates for “lack of demonstrated competence.” Prosecutors say 37-year-old Philip McPherson instructed illegally, leading to a 2022 Piper Cherokee crash in Pennsylvania that killed his student. The FAA had revoked his credentials a year earlier after multiple accidents and a failed reexamination, yet he continued giving unauthorized lessons. McPherson faces sentencing in January and could spend the rest of his life in prison for his fatal lapse in judgment.

PilotTube

MOSAIC brought big changes, from new certification standards to expanded sport pilot privileges. AOPA President Darren Pleasance breaks it all down and answers your AOPA member questions about what’s changing for general aviation.

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