Most flight school owners want more aircraft on the line. Almost none of them want the loan, the down payment, or the risk that comes with buying one. A new FAA rule and a smarter way to lease are about to change that math. Our next Aviation Business Podcast guest lives at the center of both shifts, and this post previews what he will unpack.
Meet the Guest: AJ Dorizas
AJ Dorizas builds businesses around one idea. Aircraft access should be simpler and cheaper for the people who need it most.
He founded Huckleberry Aeroworks, an aircraft leasing company, with his wife Charlotte. He is also the U.S. sales representative for SHARK.AERO, a maker of high-performance light sport aircraft.
That dual role is rare. AJ can speak to the money side of a fleet decision and the equipment side in the same breath. Host Tim Jedrek sits down with him to break both down for owners.
What MOSAIC Actually Changes
MOSAIC stands for Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification. It is the biggest update to light sport aviation in more than 20 years.
The rule arrives in two phases. Sport pilot privileges changed on October 22, 2025, and that phase is already in effect. New light sport aircraft certification rules take effect on July 24, 2026.
The old 1,320-pound weight cap is gone. Aircraft now qualify based on performance, keyed to a clean stall speed of 59 knots. That single change opens the door to faster, more capable airplanes.
Here is what that means in plain terms. Light sport aircraft can now have up to four seats. They can carry retractable gear, constant-speed propellers, and even electric propulsion, each with the right training and endorsement.
One caution keeps this accurate. A sport pilot can still carry only one passenger, and night flying still needs a medical or BasicMed. The aircraft got more capable, but the pilot rules still apply.
Why This Matters for Your School
More capable light sport aircraft cost less to buy and less to fly than a traditional certified trainer. For a school watching every dollar, that gap is the whole story.
MOSAIC also grows your market. The sport pilot path lets more people start flying with a driver’s license medical for daytime lessons. That is a larger pool of first-time students knocking on your door.
The July 2026 certification phase is a planning deadline, not a someday problem. Schools thinking about a MOSAIC-ready fleet should be running the numbers now. AJ shares how he sees owners preparing.
The Leasing Angle: Grow Without Buying
Buying a trainer can mean spending hundreds of thousands of dollars you do not have. Leasing offers another path.
In AJ’s model, his company owns the aircraft and leases it to your school. You fly it, train students, and earn revenue. You keep scheduling and instruction while he handles ownership and compliance.
The aircraft arrives inspected and airworthy, so you can put it on the line and start billing right away. You scale the fleet up or down as demand shifts, without being stuck owning a depreciating asset.
There is an instructor angle too. AJ once ran a flight club where CFIs kept 100 percent of their instruction fees. On the episode, he explains why that model helps schools keep good instructors.
What Tim and AJ Will Cover
This episode connects two threads that most owners hear about separately. MOSAIC creates a new class of affordable, capable trainers. Leasing is how a cash-tight school actually gets one on the ramp.
Tim and AJ walk through the buy-versus-lease decision, the real limits of the new sport pilot rules, and a practical fleet plan for the next 18 months. If you own or operate a flight school, this is the roadmap conversation you have been missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did MOSAIC take effect? The sport pilot phase took effect on October 22, 2025. The new light sport aircraft certification rules take effect on July 24, 2026.
Can a sport pilot fly a four-seat airplane now? Yes, with the right endorsement, a sport pilot can fly certain four-seat aircraft. They can still carry only one passenger at a time.
Is leasing cheaper than buying a trainer? It depends on your utilization and growth plan. Leasing spreads the cost and lowers the upfront risk, which can make more sense for a growing school. Always run your own numbers.
Do not miss this one. The next Aviation Business Podcast episode gives flight school owners a clear plan for growing a fleet in the MOSAIC era. Follow the show now so the episode lands in your feed the day it drops. Subscribe on your favorite platform, and share it with an owner who is stuck deciding whether to buy or lease.