EASA CS-VLA
Encyclopedia
EASA CS-VLA is the European Aviation Safety Agency
Certification Specification for Very Light Aircraft.
The Very Light Aircraft or VLA aircraft certification category introduced in 2003 by the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency
) is intended to make it easier and less costly to get full European certification of a general aviation
aircraft. The somewhat relaxed certification procedure is available for aircraft satisfying the following criteria:
A CS-VLA aircraft is not certified for aerobatics
and may be flown under daylight visual flight rules
only.
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
Certification Specification for Very Light Aircraft.
The Very Light Aircraft or VLA aircraft certification category introduced in 2003 by the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
) is intended to make it easier and less costly to get full European certification of a general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft. The somewhat relaxed certification procedure is available for aircraft satisfying the following criteria:
- A single engineEngineAn engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
with spark or compression ignition (i.e. no jetsJet engineA jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
). - One or two seats.
- Maximum take-off weightMaximum Take-Off WeightThe Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous term for rockets is Gross Lift-Off Mass, or GLOW...
(MTOW) of not more than 750 kg. - Stall speed in the landing configuration (VS0VSVS, V.S., Vs, vs, vs., or VS may refer to:- Organizations :* Venstresocialisterne, , a Danish political party* Victoria School...
) of no more 83 km/h (45 knots).
A CS-VLA aircraft is not certified for aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
and may be flown under daylight visual flight rules
Visual flight rules
Visual flight rules are a set of regulations which allow a pilot to operate 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 than basic VFR weather minimums, as specified in the rules of the...
only.