content_image/574645.jpg content_image/574646.jpg
finish. Generally, composite construction has few fasteners, such as protruding rivets and bolts. Pilots should become acquainted with inspection concerns such as looking for hair-line cracks and delaminations. 

## Engines 

LSAs use a variety of engines that range from FAA- certificated to non-FAA-certificated. Engine technology varies significantly from conventional air-cooled to high revolutions per minute (rpm)/water-cooled designs. [Figure 16-4]  These different technologies present a transitioning pilot new training opportunities and challenges. Since most LSAs use non-FAA-certificated engines, a transitioning pilot should fully understand the engine controls, procedures, and limitations. In most LSA airplanes, engines are water-cooled, 4-cycle, carbureted with a gear reduction drive. Engines such as these have much higher operating rpms and require a gear-box to reduce the propeller rpms to the proper range. Because of the higher operating rpms, vibration and noise signatures are quite different in most LSAs when compared to most standard type certificated designs. 

## Instrumentation 

In addition to advanced airframe and engine technology, LSAs often have advanced flight and engine instrumentation. Often installed are electronic flight instrumentation systems (EFIS) that provide attitude, airspeed, altimeter, vertical speed, direction, moving map, navigation, terrain awareness, traffic, weather, engine data, etc., all on one or two liquid crystal displays. [Figure 16-5]  EFIS has become a cost-effective replacement for traditional mechanical gyros and instruments. Compared to mechanical instrumentation systems, EFIS requires almost no maintenance. There are tremendous advantages to EFIS systems as long as the pilot is correctly trained in its use. EFIS systems can cause a “heads down” syndrome and loss of situation awareness if the pilot is not 

<img src='content_image/574645.jpg'>

trained to quickly and properly configure, access, program, and interpret the information provided. Transition training must include, if EFIS is installed, instruction in the use of the specific EFIS installed in the training airplane. In some cases, EFIS manufacturers or third party products are available for the pilot to practice EFIS operations on a personal computer as opposed to learning their functions in flight. 

## Weather Considerations 

Managing weather factors is important for all aircraft but becomes more significant as the weight of the airplane decreases. Smaller, lighter weight airplanes are more affected by adverse weather such as stronger winds (especially crosswinds), turbulence, terrain influences, and other hazardous conditions. [Figures 16-6 and  16-7] LSA Pilots should carefully consider any hazardous weather conditions and effectively use an appropriate set of personal minimums to mitigate flight risk. Some LSAs have a maximum recommend wind velocity regardless of wind direction. 

<img src='content_image/574646.jpg'>

