Ultralight Focused Fly-in - Kevin Moore, Contributing Writer & Photographer (2024)

The Rideau Lakes Flying Club hosted its second of three fly-ins during the year, this one was the ultralight focused fly-in held in the month of July. However, it's not restricted to ultralights as all aircraft are welcome to attend and several of both types did so.

Ultralight aircraft and flying is becoming more and more popular in Canada as Transport Canada and the government seem to be bent on pushing general aviation in this country into extinction. One of the ways they're doing this is to restrict, and eventually, ban 100LL fuel which is forcing GA aircraft owners to either adapt by using mo-gas (motor vehicle fuel) or simply stop flying if they can't find 100LL to fill their aircraft with. Unfortunately, with ethanol being put in mo-gas, it's becoming more difficult to find fuel without it.

For this reason, as well as other restrictions being put on GA aircraft and pilots, many are turning to purchasing and flying ultralight aircraft, and not just in Canada. An ultralight aircraft in Canada can be defined by two categories; the BULA (Basic Ultralight Aircraft) and the AULA (Advanced Ultralight Aircraft). Here to, the definition of what makes either type of ultralight aircraft are somewhat muddied and, depending on what you fly, you may have to fight to put your aircraft in the category in which you wish to operate it in.

The BULA is defined as an aircraft that is no heavier than 1200lbs gross weight and with a stall speed of no more than 39knots/45mph or less A BULA can only be operated as a single person aircraft, even if it has seating for pilot and passenger. The only caveat to that is if both persons are ultralight pilots or the second person is a student pilot , then you can operate the aircraft with two people. You are also required to fly the aircraft with a hard shell flying helmet. While, for some UL aircraft, this might make sense, with regard to an aircraft such as an Aeronca Champ that fits into the category, it seems somewhat ridiculous.

There are many types of aircraft that can be operated as a BULA including new build, either from scratch/kit (homebuilt), a built aircraft from a factory, either new or something that's 30, 40 or 50+ years old that fits into the category or something that's imported from another country that meets the criteria. Though rules for operating aircraft as ultralights are changing. For several years you could operate a general aviation aircraft such as an Aeronca Champ, Chief or a Taylorcraft, as examples, as a BULA, as long as it meets the criteria as set out by Transport Canada. If the aircraft carries a Canadian aircraft identification of CF-XXX, C-FXXX or C-GXXX it will soon be required to carry a C-IXXX designation to identify it as an ultralight.

An AULA has a higher gross weight of 1232lbs for a 2 seat, 770lbs for a single seat, and a maximum stall speed of 45mph. As long as the pilot has passenger carrying privileges, you can carry a passenger in an advanced ultralight. A BULA can never be used to carry passengers, even with the passenger carrying privileges. Though Transport Canada does not require aircraft log books with either the BULA or AULA, it's recommended that owners keep all records of work and hours of their aircraft. It really is in best interest of the aircraft owner to keep and maintain aircraft log books should they decided to sell their aircraft.

Ultralight aircraft rules differ from country to country. As outlined above, there are the two categories in Canada but in the United States, an ultralight is defined in "Part 103." What Transport Canada refers to an AULA, in the US the FAA is more likely to categorise it as a Light Sport Aircraft or even an Experimental Aircraft, depending on weight and type.

In the United States an ultralight aircraft is defined as outlined by Part 103; "...the limits are a single seat, takeoff weight less than 254 pounds, excluding pilot, and a stall speed less than 28mph. Part 103 also limits maximum speed to 63mph and fuel capacity to 5 US gallons. If the requirements of Part 103 are met, no license, medical or registration are required." Though the US ultralight requirements for aircraft are much more limiting, they are far less so in the requirement of proper, or any type for that matter, training. The next step up is the LSA, or light sport aircraft, category which requires aircraft registration and pilot flight training, among other things.

In the United Kingdom an ultralight aircraft is defined as a "microlight aircraft." The waters are a bit muddy here but it seems that, depending type and seating configuration (single or 2-seat), a microlight can have a gross weight not in excess of 300kg for a single seat, landplane; 330kg for an amphibious/floatplane single seat; 495kg for a 2 seat, amphibious/floatplane; 450kg for a 2 seat landplane. In the UK they have Microlight aircraft (ULAC), Microlight autogyro (GYRO) and Microlight helicopter (UHEL). You are also required to hold a private pilot license. For more in depth information on both visit www.bmaa.org or visit the "Skybrary" website.

If you're interested in becoming an ultralight pilot, do some research in your country to determine the rules and requirements. In Canada, you can check with Transport Canada and/or the Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada (UPAC - upac.ca) then research an ultralight flying school in your area. In Canada you're required to attend ground school and write an exam, obtain 10 hours (minimum) of instruction and 10 hours (minimum) of solo time to obtain your PPUL (Pilot Permit Ultralight). After that, go flying. Head out to different fly-in events around your province and meet other pilots and people who have similar interests. Flying is a lot of fun. It'll take you places you'd maybe never go. If you have an ultralight on floats, go land on a lake and spend the day fishing, swimming and enjoying the outdoors. Find a river to land on and taxi up to a sandbar and spend the day having a picnic. The possibilities are boundless.