Ultralight aircraft in the United States are much smaller and lighter than ultralight aircraft as defined by all other countries. In the United States, ultralights are described as "ultralight

vehicle A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), ...

s" and not as aircraft. They are not required to be registered, nor is the pilot required to have a pilot's certificate.

United States definition of "ultralight"

Regulation of ultralight aircraft in the United States is covered by the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14 (

Federal Aviation Regulations The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs comprise Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). A wide variety ...

), Part 103, or ''14 CFR Part 103'', which defines an "ultralight" as a vehicle that: * has only one seat * Is used only for recreational or sport flying * Does not have a U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate * If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds * If powered: ** Weighs less than 254 pounds (115 kg) empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices ** Has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L) ** Does not exceed 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph) calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight ** Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots (45 km/h; 28 mph) calibrated airspeed or less

Certification

* 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. * Operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements or to have airman or medical certificates. * Ultralight vehicles are not required to be registered or to have registration markings.

Operations

* Ultralight vehicle cannot be flown except between the hours of sunrise and sunset. * 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: ** The vehicle has an operating anti-collision light visible for at least 3 statute miles ** Flight can only take place in

uncontrolled airspace In aviation, uncontrolled airspace is airspace where an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service is not deemed necessary or cannot be provided for practical reasons. It is the opposite of controlled airspace. It is that portion of the airspace that has ...

Ultralight vehicles cannot be flown over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons. Weight allowances can be made for amphibious landing gear, and

ballistic parachute A ballistic parachute, ballistic reserve parachute, or emergency ballistic reserve parachute, is a parachute ejected from its casing by a small explosion, much like that used in an ejection seat. The advantage of the ballistic parachute over a co ...

systems. In the United States, while no certification or training is required by law for ultralights, training is strongly advised.

References

{{Reflist United States ultralight aircraft

United States definition of "ultralight"

Certification

Operations

See also

References