Definition
An FAA certificate holder authorized to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, and the annual condition inspection on a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) of the same class for which the rating was issued. The certificate is obtained by completing an FAA-approved training course of specified length for the aircraft class (airplane, weight-shift control, powered parachute, glider, lighter-than-air, or gyroplane) and is limited to LSA in the experimental or special light-sport categories.
Plain English
A person who has been trained and certified by the FAA to maintain and inspect light sport aircraft. They can do the regular maintenance and the yearly condition inspection on LSAs in the category they were trained for.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in light-sport aircraft maintenance discussions, aircraft records, and decisions about who is legally allowed to inspect or sign off work on an LSA.
Derivation
"Repairman" is an FAA certificate category, separate from a Mechanic certificate (A&P). The "Maintenance rating" distinguishes this certificate from the LSA Repairman with an Inspection rating, who can only perform the annual condition inspection on their own aircraft and cannot perform other maintenance.
Why Pilots Care
This rating lets many LSA owners avoid the higher cost of a full A&P mechanic while still meeting legal maintenance requirements.
Intuition Check
Do not read “Maintenance rating” as simply “someone who is good at maintenance.” Here, it means a specific FAA authorization that gives defined privileges and limits. Do not assume every mechanic, owner, or repairman can sign off every LSA task. The certificate, rating, aircraft type, and rules all matter.
Example Sentence 1
After completing the 120-hour airplane course, she earned her LSA Repairman with a Maintenance rating and now performs the annual condition inspection on her Light Sport airplane.
Example Sentence 2
Only an LSA Repairman with a Maintenance rating may approve major repairs on a light sport airplane.