The FAA’s New MOSAIC – What All Is In This Picture? 

By John M. Dahlen 

I am frequently heard joking about how the FAA and I finally found something we totally agree on. After my stroke and three or four heart stoppages, we all agreed that I should probably no longer exercise my flight privileges as PIC. It’s one thing when your prop stops spinning at 6,000 ft. But I suspect it gets a whole lot trickier real quickly at that altitude when your heart stops pumping or your brain goes on strike and you’re the only pilot on board! In truth, the FAA and I frequently agree on things, and they help keep an amazingly huge percentage of pilots and passengers alive in the air as surely as my Cardiologist and others help keep me alive on the ground, all for which I am thankful! The new MOSAIC rule is one such example of the FAA and others in the industry working to strike a good balance between accessibility to, and safety in the sky for those who dream of becoming a pilot someday.  

The new Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule in its final form, with some specific exceptions, becomes effective October 22, 2025. This article is not to be considered legal advice or reference material for legal evaluation of any aviation activity, even though it draws heavily from (read, “heavily plagiarizes”) the text of the final rule as published in the Federal Register. Not all the details are included here. This is intended only to shine the spotlight on, and inform you of, these new regulatory changes coming into effect so you can do further research to determine how they might affect your future aviation planning. My lawyer at Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe made me say that. And besides, it’s true!  

Cutting to the chase, the MOSAIC rule establishes exciting new guidelines in several general areas. The three that seem to be most commonly asked details about are (1) It dramatically expands the kinds and qualities of aircraft that are allowed to be included in the light-sport category; (2) It greatly expands privileges for sport pilots; and (3) it expands the light-sport repairman certificate privileges. One important thing to note about these changes is that, as exciting as they are for many potential new pilots, they are promulgated based on safety data and considerations affecting the general public as well. This includes the safety record of light-sport category aircraft over the past twenty-one years since the category was created in 2004. Following are some of the highlights of the new MOSAIC rule from its Executive Summary in the Federal Register. 

1. Certification of Light-Sport category Aircraft: The MOSAIC rule aims to increase the availability of safe, modern, and affordable aircraft for recreational aviation, flight training, and certain aerial work. Generally, this rule provides broad regulatory relief to the public. That is, under this rule, manufacturers of light-sport category aircraft may design and manufacture a broader array of aircraft, including rotorcraft and powered-lift. The following is a list of some of the other provisions in this section. (CAS = calibrated airspeed; Vso = stall speed with full flaps) 

• Allows increased capacities for passengers, fuel, and cargo (4 seats for airplanes now, 2 seats for others; max weight not prescribed. The FAA noted that removing 2 seats from a 6-seat airplane does not make it qualified, as the aircraft in question must be designed for a maximum of 4 seats.) 

• Allows electric and other alternative propulsion sources 

• Allows faster, higher performing aircraft that are more suitable for personal travel (Max airspeed 250 kts CAS; the type of engine, prop, & landing gear are no longer prescribed) 

• Increases max stall speed for light-sport category airplanes and gliders (airplanes 61 kts Vso CAS; gliders 45 kts Vso CAS; unchanged for others) 

• Removes prescriptive weight limits that hinder incorporation of safety-enhancing designs and equipage 

• Adopts more performance-based rules to expand and enable innovation 

2. Expanded privileges for Sport Pilots:  Sport pilot privileges are expanded to include the above-summarized broader array of aircraft, and new privileges. These new privileges for sport pilots are available via training and endorsements. New privileges for sport pilots include 

• operating helicopters,  

• operating at night,  

• operating aircraft with retractable landing gear,  

• operating aircraft with constant speed propellers,  

• operating high-performance airplanes.  

• Operating privileges for certain light-sport category aircraft are expanded to include certain aerial work. 

3. Expanded privileges under the light-sport repairman certificate: revises privileges for repairman certificate (light-sport) holders to  

• align with the expansion of aircraft categories that will be eligible for light-sport category airworthiness certificates 

• allow a light-sport repairman to conduct the condition inspection on amateur built aircraft that are of the same category and class, as applicable, of aircraft for which the repairman was certificated 

• This rule also revises the requirements for manufacturer-issued safety directives and revises requirements for performing repairs and alterations of light-sport category aircraft.  

4. Operations: This rule revises operating limitations for restricted category aircraft, experimental aircraft, and light-sport category aircraft. This rule also codifies a Congressional mandate to enable certain aircraft with an experimental airworthiness certificate to conduct space support vehicle flights carrying persons or property for compensation or hire without an air carrier certificate or exemption. This rule also makes minor revisions to right-of-way rules and operations in the vicinity of airports in Class G airspace; primarily addressing traffic flow and conflict avoidance, especially between gliders and motorized aircraft, at uncontrolled airports.  

5. Experimental Aircraft: This rule establishes a new purpose for which experimental airworthiness certificates may be issued to former military aircraft to improve alignment between certain operations of former military aircraft and the experimental airworthiness certificates that authorize their operation. This rule also increases the duration of certain experimental airworthiness certificates from one to three years.  

6. Restricted Category Aircraft: This rule enhances the requirements for the certification of former military aircraft in the restricted category by requiring the aircraft to have a service history with the U.S. Armed Forces. Under 14 CFR 21.25(b)(7), FAA has approved additional special purpose operations for which restricted category aircraft may be certificated. Currently, those additional purposes are only listed in FAA policy documents for type and airworthiness certification of these aircraft. This rule codifies special purpose operations that have already been published for public notice in the Federal Register. 

7. Noise: This rule enables persons to voluntarily establish compliance with part 36 noise requirements and provide a statement of compliance to FAA for a light-sport category aircraft.  

As you can see, the MOSAIC acronym seems appropriate for this new rule. Many detailed pieces have been brought together and arranged into quite a broad-based piece of regulatory framework! Anyone wanting to develop a more detailed understanding of this new rule has a few resources available to do so. If you like to go straight to the source and read the very detailed (189 pages) evolution of MOSAIC, including the 1300+ public comments and how the FAA responded (many resulted in changes!), you can access the details in the U.S. Federal Register at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-07-24/pdf/2025-13972.pdf. If you are a student or are planning to become one, discuss your new options with one or more prospective CFIs as you develop your personal training plan and before you sign any contracts. I have also always found the folks at the local FSDO to be very helpful with an answer or a recommendation where else to inquire. Keep in mind that, with all this just coming online, many Instructors, and even some of the good folks at your FSDO might still be coming up to speed on this too and not yet have clear answers for everything. Our Government & Legislative Affairs Advocate, Adam White, might also be able to answer questions as this new MOSAIC rule  comes online (Adam.White@alaskaairmen.org). And finally, according to the Federal Register, if you have technical questions concerning MOSAIC, contact  

James Newberger, Aircraft Certification Service (AIR–632),  

FAA, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591,  

Telephone: (202) 267–1636;  

e-mail: james.e.newberger@faa.gov.  

So there you go. MOSAIC becomes effective October 22, 2025, except for amendatory instructions 3, 8, 9, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23 through 26, 71, 72, 75, 76, and 80, which are effective July 24, 2026.  

As our seasons change, and the wet stuff becomes white stuff, remember to change your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, November 1^st (technically at 0200 DST on Sunday morning) and enjoy that extra hour of sleep or whatever you use it for as we end daylight savings time a little early this year. Then, in the wink of an eye, we will be deep into our holiday season. I wish each and every one of our readers a safe, joyous, and warmly blessed holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas to all. And to all, a good night! 

John M. Dahlen is a life member and regular writer for the Transponder. He is a past Vice President of the association, and is the US/Russia Liaison for group VFR flights from Alaska to Russia when such opportunities can be safely resumed. He welcomes all correspondence related to Alaskan general aviation. Send e-mail to him at OneAlaskanGuy@hotmail.com, or call/text him in Alaska at (+1) 907.830.5889. (AKST is -9UTC after 01Nov2025).