There is
no "LSA" category in Europe yet. As far as I understand it, a number of light aircraft (e.g. variants of the Flight Design CT LS and Remos GX) have gained EASA Permits to Fly as an interim measure but these may not be used for commercial flight training. Almost all of the flashy, composite, Rotax powered designs gracing the pages of various periodicals at the moment are flying in Europe as
microlights, which is a completely different kettle of fish.
A Cessna representative told me at the "Aero" trade fair in Friedrichshafen in Germany in April that the Skycatcher will be certified in Europe in the VLA category, and the process has already been started.
The question remains whether European flying schools are willing to pay in excess of €100k for a trainer which cannot use MOGAS when there are several established European designs around in the same price category which can (Katana, Aero VL-3, various Tecnam designs).
But then again I felt confident in another thread that Cessna would never, ever certify the Skycatcher in Europe...
