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
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 monito ...
(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 services ...
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
The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous ...
(MTOW) of not more than 750 kg
*One or two seats maximum
*Maximum
Stall speed
In fluid dynamics, a stall is a reduction in the lift coefficient generated by a foil as angle of attack increases.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', p. 486. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. This occurs when t ...
in the landing configuration (
VS0) of no more than 83 km/h (45
knot
A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ' ...
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
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in conventional passenger-carrying flights. The term is a portmanteau of "aerial" and "acrobatics". Aerobatics are performed in aeroplanes and glide ...
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 conditions.
See also
*
Light-sport aircraft
*
EASA CS-LSA
*
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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