Knowledge

Ultralight aircraft (United States)

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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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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.
109:, which defines an "ultralight" as a vehicle that: 365: 278: 276: 274: 272: 270: 268: 266: 264: 262: 260: 258: 256: 254: 252: 250: 116:Is used only for recreational or sport flying 247: 312: 310: 308: 306: 304: 122:If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds 93:United States definition of "ultralight" 63: 53: 42: 31: 14: 366: 301: 318:United States Ultralight Association 24: 202: 25: 385: 374:United States ultralight aircraft 147: 284:Federal Aviation Administration 343:"Part 103-Ultralight Vehicles" 335: 13: 1: 240: 163: 322:"Frequently asked Questions" 103:Federal Aviation Regulations 7: 218: 99:Code of Federal Regulations 18:FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles 10: 390: 27:American aircraft category 83:vehicle becomes legal.) 209:Lawnchair Larry flight 71: 61: 51: 40: 67: 57: 46: 35: 235:Quad City Challenger 37:Pterodactyl Ascender 225:Ultralight aviation 194:ballistic parachute 76:Ultralight aircraft 72: 69:Eipper Quicksilver 62: 59:Sorrell Hiperlight 52: 49:Ultraflight Lazair 41: 39:ultralight vehicle 113:has only one seat 16:(Redirected from 381: 358: 357: 355: 353: 339: 333: 332: 330: 328: 314: 299: 298: 296: 294: 286:(January 2007). 280: 230:Ultralight trike 137:Has a power-off 105:), Part 103, or 21: 389: 388: 384: 383: 382: 380: 379: 378: 364: 363: 362: 361: 351: 349: 341: 340: 336: 326: 324: 315: 302: 292: 290: 281: 248: 243: 221: 205: 203:Universal Scope 166: 150: 107:14 CFR Part 103 95: 74: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 387: 377: 376: 360: 359: 334: 300: 245: 244: 242: 239: 238: 237: 232: 227: 220: 217: 204: 201: 183: 182: 181: 180: 177: 170: 165: 162: 161: 160: 157: 154: 149: 146: 145: 144: 143: 142: 135: 132: 129: 123: 120: 117: 114: 94: 91: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 386: 375: 372: 371: 369: 348: 344: 338: 323: 319: 313: 311: 309: 307: 305: 289: 285: 279: 277: 275: 273: 271: 269: 267: 265: 263: 261: 259: 257: 255: 253: 251: 246: 236: 233: 231: 228: 226: 223: 222: 216: 213: 210: 200: 197: 195: 190: 187: 178: 175: 174: 171: 168: 167: 158: 155: 152: 151: 148:Certification 140: 136: 133: 130: 127: 126: 124: 121: 118: 115: 112: 111: 110: 108: 104: 100: 90: 87: 84: 80: 77: 70: 66: 60: 56: 50: 45: 38: 34: 30: 19: 350:. Retrieved 347:www.usua.org 346: 337: 325:. Retrieved 291:. Retrieved 214: 206: 198: 191: 188: 184: 125:If powered: 106: 101:, Title 14 ( 96: 88: 85: 81: 75: 73: 29: 352:10 October 293:25 October 241:References 164:Operations 327:16 August 196:systems. 368:Category 320:(2009). 219:See also 139:stall 354:2023 329:2009 295:2017 47:An 370:: 345:. 303:^ 249:^ 356:. 331:. 297:. 20:)

Index

FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles

Pterodactyl Ascender

Ultraflight Lazair

Sorrell Hiperlight

Eipper Quicksilver
Code of Federal Regulations
Federal Aviation Regulations
stall
ballistic parachute
Lawnchair Larry flight
Ultralight aviation
Ultralight trike
Quad City Challenger












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