•  Convert an S-LSA to E-LSA.  If you have an S-LSA aircraft you can re-register it as an E-LSA but cannot go back to S-LSA.  This requires a new Airworthiness Application (FAA Form 8130-6d).  Your local DAR can help you fill it out correctly.
•  Buy an E-LSA kit (do not confuse these with Amateur Built kits that a couple of trike manufacturers are trying to pawn off on an unsuspecting public -- see Amateur ).  E-LSA kits are over 90% finished and only require final assembly. AirBorne kits have even been flight tested before shipment to the US.

S-LSA:  See our S-LSA Info Page (click here).

• Aircraft that have already been registered as S-LSA.  An owner can change his/her S-LSA registration to E-LSA but once registered as an E-LSA you cannot go back to S-LSA unless you can convince the factory to issue you a brand new S-LSA compliance statement -- something that none of them will be willing to do.
• Purchase an E-LSA kit from the manufacturer.  If an aircraft model has received S-LSA certification then the factory is free to sell E-LSA kits that can be assembled by the purchaser and directly registered as E-LSA aircraft.  AirBorne has not yet decided whether they will produce any E-LSA kits.

• Ultralights that want to convert to Light Sport Aircraft.  All "heavy" or "fat" ultralights fall into this category and must transition by Jan 31, 2008 or they become lawn ornaments -- you will not be able to fly them legally and you will not be able to register them.
• Light Sport Aircraft built from a kit modeled after an aircraft that has been certified as an S-LSA (if you build a kit that is not modeled after an S-LSA you must register it as an Amateur built aircraft).  For example, AirBorne can provide the XT series aircraft as E-LSA kits because they have one or more of these aircraft certified as S-LSA.
• An S-LSA that the owner wants to re-register as an E-LSA so that he can work on it himself.

S-LSA stands for Special Light Sport Aircraft.  This is the Light Sport equivalent of a fully manufactured aircraft -- sort of like buying a Cessna.  The manufacturer self-certifies that the aircraft has been built and tested to ASTM standards and is safe to fly.

• E-LSA -- anyone can maintain them and if you attend the 16 hour E-LSA Inspection class you can do the annual inspections yourself.  S-LSAs have to be maintained by qualified repairman (with the exception of preventive maintenance items you can do yourself).
• S-LSA -- these aircraft will probably hold their value better simply because they have to be maintained by professionals.  Somebody buying a used aircraft will have more confidence in the airworthiness of an aircraft that has been professionally maintained than in one you have maintained (unless you are a licensed aircraft mechanic).  Also, these aircraft can be used for commercial purposes after Jan 2010.  And, if the new owner decides he wants to maintain his S-LSA himself he can always re-register it as an E-LSA -- it will be much harder, and in most cases impossible, to go from E-LSA back to S-LSA.

The Airworthiness Certificate is good for the life of the aircraft (it is not affected by the sale of the aircraft like the registration certificate is).  There is one exception to this rule.  If you have an E-LSA aircraft approved for flight training or towing until Jan 2010 your airworthiness certificate will expire Jan 31, 2010.  You must get a new airworthiness certificate from your FSDO BEFORE JAN 31, 2010 or your aircraft will never be able to fly legally again.

Note:  The FAA may do the airworthiness inspection for free if there are no DARs available in your area.  Contact your local FSDO for more information.