After 17 years of personal frustration with the hits and misses of the light sport aircraft category and sport pilot certificate, relief lies in plain sight. In fact, in about 3 months, I’ll have the ability to fly both airplanes I frequent—a Lockwood AirCam and a Cessna 182 under the FAA’s revised sport pilot privileges—announced with the confirmation of the MOSAIC final rule on Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
That means (since I currently hold a higher level of pilot certificate) I can fly those aircraft with a valid driver’s license, rather than a medical certificate. This is a game changer for a lot of folks—and not just the senior cadre of flying friends I’ve accumulated over the years.
Table 9 Summary of Changes to Sport Pilot Privileges released by the FAA this week with the confirmation of the MOSAIC final rule. [Courtesy of the FAA/EAA]
Aircraft certification rules also open up with the launch of MOSAIC, including removing the weight limit imposed by the original LSA classification (1,320 pounds for land-based airplanes), no limit on number or horsepower of engines, and the expansion to four seats (though the pilot flying under sport privileges must stick to just one passenger). The upper limit for the stall speed for airplanes also expands, to a VS1 of 59 knots CAS, opening up not only the Skylane but a host of other single- and light twin-engine airplanes I have in my logbook.
I’ll write more on these memories at a later date, but the removal of the weight limit would have allowed Cessna much more flexibility in the design of the Skycatcher, and I argue would have made it an even better airplane, performing far better in the marketplace.
A host of already CS 23 certified airplanes (under EASA) are poised for deployment into the U.S. market too as a result, including the Elixir two-seat training airplane that also announced Part 23 certification this week (understanding that with that milestone passed, it can be flown by private pilots ahead of MOSAIC implementation).
The playing field just opened up significantly, with the cost to entry lowered substantially at the same time.
I cannot overstate how critical these changes will be in assuring the health and accessibility of general aviation as we integrate new technologies and ways of flying into the mix. I’ll see you in these new, blue skies!
There’s a common thread here. Each one helps add context and fluency to our daily flight ops, whether we fly for ourselves, professionally, or in pursuit of opportunity.
Making sense of all the data we carry in our pocket or purse (or just being able to find it when we need it, at the moment we need it)….this has been the holy grail, elusive to grasp even as we power up the devices we have access to.
Any aircraft owner or pilot flying a high performance airplane in the IFR system knows the intersection of documentation both operational and procedural. Tying all of it together has felt like pushing a boulder up a mountain—from planning the flight and ensuring the aircraft is ready (and legal) to executing a flight plan through the clouds, to recording it faithfully at the end (and getting credit for those approaches logged) and making appointments for the next inspections.
With the sequential release of Garmin’s Smart Charts and ForeFlight’s Dynamic Procedures, depending on which app you use in your planning and as a backup on the flight deck, you can now use the power of the database (Garmin proprietary for Smart Charts or Jeppesen for ForeFlight) to carve out the plan you expect, and then be able to change it on the fly—and only present the data (from NOTAMs to fixes and altitudes) relevant to the approach you plan to fly. Or the one ATC switches you over to (or you choose based on changing conditions).
You can then follow along as your blue ownship toodles through the course on your smart phone or tablet. Briefly. While flying the airplane IRL.
ForeFlight’s Dynamic Procedures reduces the info on the display (here shown on the iPad) and uses a unique sidebar to distill the information and put it into context. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Flying with Garmin Pilot testing Smart Charts on the map view. [Credit: Julie Boatman]The geo-referenced profile view on Garmin Pilot with Smart Charts enabled puts you on the approach, with an immediate visual representation. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
On the aircraft side, two recent updates to the airplane management app world continue to drive critical information into your device, and connect you remotely to your airplane, should you be lucky enough to own one of the new ones. The enabling technology underneath both the Cirrus IQ app and the Daher Me & My TBM (now in a Kodiak version) is Garmin’s GDL 60 datalink unit installed in the airplane.
It needs a connection in order to “go live” so, as it was mentioned in Daher’s press conference today, you need to make sure you park your TBM 960 or Kodiak 900 in a pot with LTE 4G service. Hopefully your hangar has this capability, to start with.
If so, you can wake up the airplane remotely, and find out the fuel, TKS, oxygen, and database status on your phone…before you call the FBO to truck you over some avgas or Jet-A. Pretty amazing stuff.
Cirrus’ Todd Simmons talks about the connected nature of the Cirrus Experience at its press conference at Oshkosh 2025. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Capturing the latest connected Cirrus SR22 G7+ at EAA AirVenture 2025. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert and customer service developer Mathieu Pardo talk about the connectivity needed through the Garmin GDL 60 to enable the Me & My Kodiak app. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
Plus, you can stay connected with your friends in the type association, comparing notes on landing prowess and efficiency. If you want. Or you can just assess your own performance and take note accordingly the next time you meet up with an instructor. Other OEMs have similar programs in development, but it’s cool to see Cirrus and Daher leading the pack here in creating the ecosystem that can serve you up the data you need. When you need it.
Stay tuned for more connectivity news as EAA AirVenture 2025 continues….now with charging stations everywhere, appropriately.
Lots of pilots come to EAA AirVenture each year to learn, whether it’s in a builder’s forum, an expert panel, or a session in a flight sim at the Pilot Proficiency Center.
Thursday held a training theme for me around master instructors, with three gatherings tuned to bring CFIs together.
The first was the annual member breakfast for the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). During the event, NAFI inducted Doug Stewart and Tim Tucker into the Instructor Hall of Fame, and gave the Eggespuehler and Laslo awards to Samantha Bowyer and author Steve Rutland.
The second was the annual King Schools press conference and lunch, which gathered flight school leaders and scholarship winners along with John and Martha King—legendary instructors who take the time to talk with everyone who comes their way.
Third was the dinner hosted by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), during which Instructor Hall of Fame member Rich Stowell gave his presentation on 9 Principles of Light Aircraft Flying.
At each event, I took away something I intend to apply to my own dual given.
The 2024 inductees to the National Instructor Hall of Fame were honored at NAFI’s breakfast. [Credit: Julie Boatman]John and Martha King pose for their raving fans at their lunch press conference. [Credit: Julie Boatman]David St. George kicks off the annual SAFE dinner on Thursday evening. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Rich Stowell and Doug Stewart catch up at the 2024 SAFE dinner at Oshkosh 2024. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
For an Oshkosh lacking major announcements—no totally new aircraft, no killer app—the quiet part out loud could be found in applications of new technology to familiar aircraft.
The headliner has to be the Harbour Air eBeaver, tucked into the main aircraft display, featuring a Magni650 power train. We spoke with Riona Armesmith, CTO of MagniX, and she briefed us on the operation of the dual motor, four inverter system driving a Hartzell composite prop. The STC is in work while flight tests comtinue.
The next pair involve simplified flight controls. We signed up for a demo of the Skyryse system in the sim set up in the shadow of the tower. We’re under NDA, but if the four-axis controls work as advertised, in a Robinson R66, we’ll likely need a different pilot certificate for traditional rotorcraft—worse than giving a manual transmission car to a kid who has only driven an automatic.
We also met up with Airhart’s founder and CEO Nikita Ermoshkin, who we interviewed for a story on Robb Report last week. The team is testing simplified flight controls in a Sling E-LSA, after flying its first proof-of-concept in an RV-12. The idea? Bringing easy flight to the masses. And I say making it possible to get a sport pilot certificate in 20 hours or less—for real.
With the relaunch of JulietBravoFox Media, we’ve captured back a bit more time to volunteer with the aviation missions closest to our hearts. Day Two at AirVenture was filled with meet-ups for two key groups: the Recreational Aviation Foundation and LightHawk.
We kicked off the day with doughnuts and coffee and good times with our fellow RAF volunteers on the top of the Hartzell booth, with a great view of the main aircraft display. Pete Bunce of GAMA honored a couple of special contributors, and then we went on a walk to take photos of the orange RAF gaggle at sponsors’ exhibits around the show: Redbird Flight Simulations, Daher, and Aviat.
Next, we had a gathering of LightHawk volunteer pilots, of which Julie just became one—along with the contribution of Stephen’s photography. We met at the Textron Aviation booth, hosted by board chairman Steve Kent. We shared our latest missions and took a tour of the Cessna, Beech, and Pipistrel aircraft on display.
Our evening capped off with two parties celebrating community: AOPA’s 85th anniversary bash at The Waters, and the Pilatus/Piper Block Party, where we met up with old friends.
Doughnuts and coffee and camaraderie celebrate the Hartzell rooftop gathering of volunteers with the Recreational Aviation Foundation. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Stephen and Julie met up with fellow LightHawk volunteer pilots at the Textron Aviation exhibit, sharing stories with friends old and new. [Credit: Julie Boatman]AOPA brough New Glarus on tap for its 85th anniversary party at the Waters. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Pilatus and Piper hosted their annual “block party” showing that even competitors find community at Oshkosh. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
This year’s EAA AirVenture launched with a relentless lineup of press conferences and events impossible for one person to cover—so it’s great to have a team here!
We started off with the Cirrus presser and Todd Simmons gave his characteristically enthusiastic run down of the company’s recent success—and the 10,000th SR and 500th Vision Jet are on display here at the show.
Daher’s Nicolas Chabbert introduced the Multi-Mission Kodiak 900 with its truly dynamic paint scheme to show off the company’s new paint facility in Sandpoint. Chabbert gave the mike to CEO and group chair Didier Kayat for his update, then introduced the interns for 2024—one from the US, one from Canada, and two from France.
The EAGLE initiative delivered a detailed update—and raised a lot of questions. More on this in an in depth edition of #JustJuliesTakes later this week.
Todd Simmons heads up the customer experience team at Cirrus. [Credit: Julie Boatman]Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher’s Aircraft Division, introduces the 2024 interns in the company’s program with GAMA. [Credit: Julie Boatman]The EAGLE update on unleaded fuel for GA sparked a lot of questions from the crowd. [Credit: Julie Boatman]EAA Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton and Director of Coms Dick Knapinski kick off AirVenture with a big lineup and lots of folks flying in. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
We cruised in 24 hours ago, and that first day at EAA AirVenture 2024 has filled up with friends, and tents, and requisitioning from the local commisaries: Columbia Outlet, Kwik Trip, Mills Fleet Farm, and Festival Foods.
We start the business end of our stay in an hour, and I’ll plan to share my #JustJuliesTakes from each day of the show. But for now, I’ll leave you with a quartet of images that capture today’s day of active rest in the Oshkosh Bubble.
You can adorn your airplane any way you want in the North 40. [Credit: Julie Boatman]The first beer of Oshkosh 2024 has to be to local favorite, Spotted Cow from New Glarus. [Credit: Julie Boatman]A full moon rises over the V-tail Bo… is it a Tomato Moon? [Credit: Julie Boatman]Sunday morning from the campsite breaks with a soft sunrise. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
The early evening light shone into the tent, making the old orange nylon glow. It was appropriate to be there at the campgrounds of Camp Scholler in the first tent I ever camped in—my family’s tent from 40-plus years ago—for my return to Oshkosh au naturel, more than 20 years since I first put down stakes there.
It turned into a homecoming, and a new experience at the same time: My partner in crime, Stephen, celebrated his first Oshkosh ever during the 2018 show. He had an excuse: He’s a Brit. So we were both like kids returning to our more innocent years. And it turned out Scholler was a perfect place to do it—hard ground, busy showers, bugs, and all.
We rolled in around 6 pm on Tuesday, which meant we secured one of the last tent spots for the taking. Seriously, when we located our home for the next four nights, we looked around for the south boundary fence and found it just a few yards away. That made me happier than you might think: It meant that Scholler was FULL!
The view from the tent, into the evening light
A balloon launch starts a beautiful Saturday at Oshkosh
Camping next to your classic airplane? Nothing could be finer
It’s not Wisconsin without cheese curds
My guess was verified the next morning at the media briefing: Not only was Scholler at capacity, the aircraft camping filled up as well, even given the new extension, the South 40. More happiness. To have so many folks there, spending days or the whole week, and (most importantly) flying in, that made my heart sing. It’s a solid indication that our general aviation industry retains a shine, perhaps returning to full health after a decade of rough years.
So many elements go into this hope, as I found out over the course of the week at EAA AirVenture. Innovations took top billing, with forums and showcases and lots of attention from all sides. Old friends met new ones: Both the warbird and classic rows featured new faces, and the homebuilt areas were packed. The venders with whom I compared notes said business was good—a solid showing at least. More satisfaction.
Old and new friends gather for the WomenVenture photo in airshow center
It’s good to be back for the annual gathering
Two innovating leaders: Anna Dietrich and Gretchen Jahn after the Women in Aviation breakfast at Oshkosh
The unsinkable Sean D. Tucker launching the new We All Fly exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum
And the weather…nearly perfect. Does that ever happen? Okay, so, Wednesday eve we ducked out of the pouring rain around dinnertime, and feared what we’d find at the campsite. A moat? A stream? Water cascading through our tent? We lucked out. We’d picked a bit of ground that sat ever-so-slightly higher than its surroundings. And with the exception of one dumbass move (leaving the vent window unzipped), we stayed dry through that single night of showers.
But the best part of camping was the people (aside from opting out of the morning traffic jam coming into the grounds). After our early morning showers and reasonably giant coffees from the canteen, we sat outside and talked with newbies from around the country—and the world. Everyone gave off a kind of quiet joy that’s impossible to fake.
Spooky 71 joins the D Day Squadron for its 2019 memorial in Europe
So many stories behind every one of these classics
Morning at the Red Barn near the ultralights
My favorite ice cream of the show: Maple Bacon
If we were a bit worried that we might find politics a problem, our concerns faded quickly. It was as if everyone silently agreed to keep our differences outside of the airport boundaries. We had enough common ground to focus on that the divisiveness fell away. It had no place. Let’s make a pact to carry on that spirit of camaraderie, shall we? We could wind up solving our problems rather than letting them grow intractable.
It felt as though general aviation has started to use its collective will in this way to renew itself, and move forward. For a first-time visitor to Oshkosh, what I’ll call the “Spirit of Scholler” demonstrated best what GA in the United States is all about. For a longtime avgeek returning home for that annual visit to Wisconsin, it made me feel so full of hope.
A great addition: water refill stations around the flight line
Such a thrill to have Honest Vision join Together We Fly on ASA’s display!
The STEM center at the Redbird display featured classes for kids during the week
Getting quality instruction at the sims in the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center
