857 MOSAIC – the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification final rule

The MOSAIC final rule, an interview with the founder and CEO of Flying Eyes Optics, FAA guidance on certification of powered lift vehicles, new galleries opening at the National Air and Space Museum, a Delta pilot lands and gets immediately arrested, deer strikes in Alaska, and the NTSB investigation of a fatal flight in that state. Also, thoughts on recent moves to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to Space Center Houston.

Guest

Dean Siracusa is the founder and CEO of Flying Eyes Optics. Dean, a pilot, started the company when he realized that existing sunglasses did not perform well with the increased clamping force of modern aviation headsets.

Flying Eyes temples are made of a patented material that allows the temples to conform to your head instead of curving around your ears. They’re easy to put on and take off while wearing a headset or helmet. The flexibility of the temple material and shatterproof polycarbonate lenses makes these glasses hard to break.

Hillel Glazer, our Aviation Innovation and Entrepreneurship Correspondent, interviewed Dean at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025.

Aviation News

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Improvements to Recreational Aviation Safety, Expansion of Light-Sport Sector

The Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) final rule was announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. The new rule makes changes to the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category and Sport Pilot privileges by expanding an alternative to experimental amateur-built aircraft. MOSAIC:

• Removes the weight limit
• Encompasses aircraft with higher speeds, more seats, and retractable landing gear. 
• Allows for new types of propulsion and modern avionics.
• Allows aerial work with LSA, such as infrastructure and forest inspections, photography/filming, and agricultural surveillance.
• Allows pilots operating under Sport Pilot privileges to fly a broader range of aircraft.
• Reduces regulatory requirements by expanding the types of aircraft that qualify as LSA and the types of aircraft pilots can fly under Sport Pilot privileges.

Changes for sport pilots and light-sport repairmen take effect 90 days after the final rule publishes. Changes for LSA certification take effect 365 days after the final rule publishes.

Video: Secretary Sean P. Duffy Holds Press Conference for Important Announcement on General Aviation

EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2025 Facts and Figures

Attendance for the week: approximately 704,000, the highest on record. More than 10,000 aircraft, 2,543 show planes, nearly 6,000 volunteers, and 962 commercial exhibitors.

FAA Releases Powered-Lift Certification Guidance

Originally, certification of the new advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft types, such as eVTOLs, had been worked under Part 23 regulations for light aircraft. In 2022, the FAA categorized them as powered-lift under FAR 21.17(b) regulations for special class aircraft. That category had no airworthiness s