FAA and Floats

[John Parker]

Hi guys,
Although all of the original and later log books and plates in my 7EC show that it is a 1450 lb gross weight air plane , I would still really somehow love to find out how I can put her on straight floats and then put her and me into the Light Sport cat. park her at my lake house and kiss goodby to my monthly pacemaker testing and other test reports for Uncle. I read where the FAA last week certified a Chez amfibian into the LSA. It looked like a baby Lake Amfibian.
Would the FAA consider certifying a float plane over 1320 lbs into the LS Cat. ?

Thanks for any feed back

JP

[Floatin_around]

I believe the LSA reads that you can add 10% to the 1320 if it goes on floats.
Check the SPA website as there is a lot of info on there.
Ki

[Mastercfi]

The MAX GW on wheels is 1320 and 1420 on floats. The Aeronca 7AC, 7BCM, 7DC, 7CCM all qualify on wheels and floats.

The 11AC, 11BC qualify on wheels the 11CC has a MGW of 1350 on wheels and just misses HOWEVER the 11CC has a MGW of 1400 on floats so it is OK on floats but not wheels.

You could possibly do some research and see if you can do a conversion for you AC and make it into a 7EC conv 7CCM and lower your MGW on paper

[Mastercfi]

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/aircraft_index.html

[Ed Clark]

The FAR defines LSA in part "... an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following..."

This has been interpreted to mean that once you exceed the gross weight officially it cannot be converted back.

It's stupid but the current rule....