Ultralight Options

FLYING Staff

Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

If the deadline for converting an ultralight to Light Sport was missed, experimental amateur-built certification is an option for kit or plan-built aircraft, requiring a builder's log and appropriate bills of sale, but simply "rebuilding" an existing ultralight will not qualify.
Sport Pilots have no distance limitations, but are restricted to a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet MSL and are prohibited from flying at night.
Existing CFIs (under subpart H) can instruct Sport Pilot candidates within their certificate's category/class without needing further proficiency, provided they become familiar with the specific Sport Pilot rules (61 subpart J).

See a mistake? Contact us.

Each month, Flying answers questions about the new Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft Rule with assistance from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the authority on the opportunities available within the category commonly known as “Sport Pilot”.

Q: Help! I missed the January 31 deadline for submitting an application to convert my two-place ultralight to the Light Sport category. I know I can no longer do that, but what options do I have?