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While ultralights in other countries might have airworthiness certificates, an airworthiness certificate is not allowed for an ultralight vehicle in the USA. (Any existing airworthiness certificate has to be surrendered to the issueing agency, including foreign agencies, before usage as an ultralight
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Instead, they are treated as powersport items and have to follow their own ruleset, FAR-103, which is the most compact aviation regulation in existence. It can be printed on the front- and backside of a single piece of paper. (In addition, a few explanatory pages have been published by the FAA.)
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exist outside of the United States. In most countries, ultralights are a class of aircraft. A completely different legal concept is valid within the USA. The FAA makes explicitly clear that ultralight vehicles are not aircraft, are not regulated as aircraft, and are exempt from aircraft rules.
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In daytime, flights may not take place in Class A, B, C, D airspace, plus a special type of E airspace directly surrounding an airport, unless the pilot has prior authorization from the ATC facility with jurisdiction over that airspace.
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is lighter than 155 pounds and thus qualifies as an unpowered FAR-103 Ultralight, if the user finds reliable means to stay away from the path of aircraft, outside airport airspace, and abides by the rules for cloud clearance.
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Ultralight vehicles may be operated during the twilight periods 30 minutes before official sunrise and 30 minutes after official sunset or, in Alaska, during the period of civil twilight as defined in the Air
Almanac, if:
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FAR-103 applies to three-axis planes, weightshift planes, very light rotorcraft, balloons, hang gliders, PPGs, or whatever contraption people use to take flight. A lawnchair like that of the
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Ultralight vehicles and their component parts and equipment are not required to meet the airworthiness certification standards specified for aircraft or to have certificates of airworthiness.
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Operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements or to have airman or medical certificates.
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Ultralight vehicles cannot be flown over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons.
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In the United States, while no certification or training is required by law for ultralights, training is strongly advised.
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The FAA emphasizes that airworthiness and compliance with FAR-103 is the responsibility of the user during every flight.
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Weight allowances can be made for amphibious landing gear, and devices deployed in an emergency, which includes
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In the United States, ultralights are not registered, nor is the pilot required to have a pilot's certificate.
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Does not exceed 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph) calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight
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Weighs less than 254 pounds (115 kg) empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices
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Ultralight vehicles are not required to be registered or to have registration markings.
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The vehicle has an operating anti-collision light visible for at least 3 statute miles
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As soon as a second or extra-wide seat is fitted, the applicability of FAR-103 ends.
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speed which does not exceed 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) calibrated airspeed
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Ultralight vehicles cannot be flown except between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
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Regulation of ultralight aircraft in the United States is covered by the
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277:"Title 14: Aeronautics and Space, Part 103 - Ultralight Vehicles"
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Does not have a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate
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Has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L)
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The flights are performed in uncontrolled airspace.
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105:Is used only for recreational or sport flying
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111:If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds
82:United States definition of "ultralight"
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307:United States Ultralight Association
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363:United States ultralight aircraft
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273:Federal Aviation Administration
332:"Part 103-Ultralight Vehicles"
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311:"Frequently asked Questions"
92:Federal Aviation Regulations
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88:Code of Federal Regulations
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16:American aircraft category
72:vehicle becomes legal.)
198:Lawnchair Larry flight
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224:Quad City Challenger
26:Pterodactyl Ascender
214:Ultralight aviation
183:ballistic parachute
65:Ultralight aircraft
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58:Eipper Quicksilver
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48:Sorrell Hiperlight
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38:Ultraflight Lazair
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28:ultralight vehicle
102:has only one seat
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275:(January 2007).
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219:Ultralight trike
126:Has a power-off
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192:Universal Scope
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96:14 CFR Part 103
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137:Certification
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339:. Retrieved
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114:If powered:
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90:, Title 14 (
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341:10 October
282:25 October
230:References
153:Operations
316:16 August
185:systems.
357:Category
309:(2009).
208:See also
128:stall
343:2023
318:2009
284:2017
36:An
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292:^
238:^
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