No license to fly an ultralight?

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 01/07/2014 at 01:30 • Filed to: None

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I was under the impression that any manned aerial vehicle required a pilot's license, but this ad tells me otherwise: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

How does that work? It's easy to avoid roads with a go kart, but how the hell would anyone know when they're dicking around in the path of actual planes? I mean, having a license wouldn't help with that either, but still. Seems like a stupidly dangerous thing to just let anyone do.

That said, I'm glad if I get to save money by not getting a license. I will own one of these one day for certain.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Rainbow 01/07/2014 at 03:05

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I see these things all the time at El Mirage, and no I do not think you need a license to fly one. They don't go high or fast, look rather unstable and the idea of flying one scares the shit out of me.

(not my picture)

Rainbow > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 01/07/2014 at 03:52

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I just wonder how far you can go before it's an actual airplane. It would be neat to have a full body and better stability and stuff.

Jayhawk Jake > Rainbow 01/07/2014 at 08:20

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Pretty far

Ultralights fall under FAA Part 103:

The Federal Aviation Regulation that regulates ultralight flying is called Part 103. These are the legal rules we fly by; they are the most lenient rules in the world. Our privileges, however, carry responsibilities.

Part 103 defines an ultralight as:

1-seat

Less than 254 pounds max. empty weight (powered)

155 pounds max empty weight (unpowered)

5 gallons max. fuel capacity

55 knots max. full power speed

24 knots max power off stall speed

If the aircraft has more than 1-seat or exceeds any of the above criteria, is not an ultralight, and not eligible for operation under Part 103.

I believe you need a drivers license, but I'm not sure. Since they are 1 seaters, you can't really get traditional in air training unless a private pilot has a 2 seater ultralight style airplane, but it's still strongly recommended to find an instructor of some sort to teach you what to do. I think to be registered with the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) as an ultralight pilot you need 10 hours of flight time, which would be reasonable. http://www.eaa.org/ultralights/

TL;DR: No, you don't need a license, but you should get training so you don't kill yourself

corvairsomeday2 > Rainbow 01/07/2014 at 08:50

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Not sure, but I think it has something to do with horsepower and weight. And you have to stay below a certain altitude. 200 feet above ground level sticks in my mind.

Makoyouidiot > Rainbow 01/07/2014 at 09:45

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Do want

Eric the RC guy > Rainbow 01/07/2014 at 10:18

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You can only fly them in class G airspace, where the primary method of not hitting other planes is called "see and avoid." If you see another plane, avoid it. They can also only be flown (and you wouldn't want to do otherwise) under Visual Flight Rules. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that it is still legal to fly aircraft that fit the old definition of ultralights without any pilot rating, just need a driver's license, however the FAA created a new class called Light Sport Aircraft with a slightly wider flight envelope than the old ultralight class, and relaxed licensing requirements (only requiring 20 hours with instructor, and an easier flight test) that allow slightly more complex aircraft with longer flight times.