The Federal Aviation Administration has published Order 8130.2M, a revision of its guidance on airworthiness certification of aircraft. The order implements related provisions of the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) final rule, and it cancels Order 8130.2L, which was dated January 30, 2026, along with clarification, deviation and policy memorandums issued for Order 8130.2 before the new order takes effect.
Several changes affect light-sport aircraft. The order updates rules covering their design, manufacture, certification, operation, maintenance and alteration. It also removes the "ELSA" and "SLSA" acronyms, which follows the removal of the light-sport aircraft definition from section 1.1 of the regulations.
Restricted category aircraft gain special purpose operations under the revision. For experimental aircraft, the order changes how long experimental airworthiness certificates last when they are issued for showing compliance, research and development, crew training and market surveys. It also adds a new experimental purpose that covers operating former military aircraft under section 21.191(j).
The FAA also revised operating limitations in Part 91 for light-sport, restricted and experimental aircraft. That includes experimental aircraft flying on space support vehicle flights, a category for which the order adds new definitions of "space support vehicle" and "space support vehicle flight." Most operating limitations in appendix D, Table D-1, have been revised.
Structurally, chapters 9 and 17 were rewritten and a new chapter 18 was added. The order removes provisions for FAA approval of the procedures that production certificate holders and modifiers use when operating experimental aircraft.
The publication summarizes only the major changes and advises users to review the complete revision of the order. An effective date was not stated in the summary.
Source: Aviation Pros -- https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft-maintenance-technology/aircraft-technology/press-release/55414374/faa-publishes-order-81302m-updating-guidance-for-airworthiness-certification-of-aircraft