On July 19, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration made an exciting announcement that it would finally include helicopters in the Light Sport category. Its proposed Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule would include helicopters for the first time. This opens the doors for new helicopter pilots to not only train in these aircraft but they can also purchase a safe and affordable personal helicopter.
In anticipation of the new FAA Light Sport Helicopter regulations that are now under review, Advanced Tactics Inc (AT) signed an exclusive agreement with the Rotor X Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Rotor X) to design, modify, and produce a new, improved fly-by-wire version of the Rotor X two-seat A600 Turbo kit helicopter.
The new Light Sport helicopter to be produced by AT will be called the ATRX-700. The helicopter will satisfy the proposed new FAA Light Sport Helicopter requirements for a recreational helicopter with simplified joy-stick controls.
The ATRX-700 will use fly-by-fly technology AT developed for their large U.S. Air Force (AFWERX) VTOL pilot-optional aircraft contract.
With FAA’s MOSAIC update, Light Sport Helicopters will now be easier to fly, easier to find training in, and can come fully assembled while still maintaining the low cost of entry that experimental aircraft are known for.
The ATRX-700 Light Sport Helicopter does not require a medical certificate to fly, and anyone with a driver’s license and training from the factory by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certified for this aircraft at a much lower cost than traditional helicopter training. The required hours for obtaining a license to fly light sport helicopters is 30 hours.
The ATRX-700 is a larger, light-sport version of Rotor X Aircraft’s Phoenix A600 Turbo with simplified fly-by-wire flight controls.
The helicopter has a gross weight of 1,700 lbs (771kg), a service ceiling of 16,000 ft, a cruise speed of 108 mph (174 km/h), and a range of 350 miles (563 km).
Advanced Tactics will have the ATRX-700 available as a complete “factory-built” and certified LSA helicopter within the next 18 months. The ATRX-700 LSA helicopter is available for preorder at $188,000 USD.
