RV-12iS: IFR Operation and Training
Enabling Advanced Flight Training in the RV-12iST
In Summer 2018, Van’s Aircraft introduced the RV-12iST, a trainer configuration of the RV-12iS SLSA focused on what flight schools had been asking for: Enhanced durability plus the ability to perform an expanded set of flight training, including Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training for Private Pilots.
One of the most notable differences in our factory demonstrator RV-12iST is the presence of the certified Garmin GTN 650 IFR navigator, in addition to a number of other standard configurations geared toward the mission. The GTN 650 is also available as an option in our SLSA Platinum model RV-12iS.
Operating IFR vs. Operating in IMC
The RV-12iST SLSA is a great platform for meeting both the long cross country requirements and shorter, skills-based instructional flying. Filing IFR and operating/training in the IFR “system” is perfectly fine and is allowed if the airplane is properly equipped and the crew meets the training/certification requirements. By operating under IFR, you are simply participating in the ATC system under the established instrument flight rules. Doing so does not necessarily imply that you are flying the airplane in the clouds.
The current regulations preclude entering actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) in any SLSA airplane. While the FAA does not directly/specifically object to it, the ASTM committee’s LSA standard states that the aircraft must be placarded including a statement that flight into IMC is not allowed (but notably makes no exclusions on IFR operations – or operating “in the system” with air traffic control). Because the FAA accepts and adopts the ASTM SLSA rules as written, this becomes a regulatory issue. Conversations between Van’s staff and the FAA this year have confirmed that these restrictions “live” completely in the LSA standard, and that no such restrictions are found directly within the FAA regs. In other words, it is up to the ASTM committee that governs the SLSA standard (called “ASTM F37”) to determine and dictate what is allowed and what is not.
Does Van’s advocate that ASTM publish an IMC-capable SLSA standard?
Members of the ASTM F37 committee have discussed a standard for IMC operations in the past, but the full committee has not yet come to consensus. It appears that all are in acknowledgement that a change needs to happen, and the committee is working on it. Van’s employees participate as members of the F37 committee and are advocating for consensus and change in that area, to be sure. We don’t yet know exactly if or when that will come to a conclusion.
Meanwhile, the point is this: In a world where we need capable, modern, inexpensive to operate and maintain training aircraft, the RV-12iST is here to deliver the commercial training needs, and does it quite well. True, you cannot intentionally fly the SLSA airplane into IMC at this time – but we’ve found that what most flight schools are looking for is a solid and capable trainer that can be used for private, instrument and commercial pilot training.
Note that the IMC topic is likely planned for discussion at the October 2018 ASTM meeting. If and when the ASTM F37 committee (or some other related and designated panel) acts, things may change. Meanwhile, know that Van’s is both watching and participating in the process.