PART 103:
FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION FOR ULTRALIGHT
VEHICLES sec. 103.1 APPLICABILITY
This part prescribes rules governing the operation of ultralight vehicles in the united States. For the purposes of this part, an ultralight vehicle is a vehicle that: (a) is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant; (b) is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only; (c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and (d) if unpowered weighs less than 155 pounds; or (e) if powered:
(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;
(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 US gallons;
(3) is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and
(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots
calibrated airspeed.
SEC 103.3 Inspection requirements.
(a) Any person operating an ultralight vehicle under this part shall, upon request, allow the Administrator, or his designee, to inspect the vehicle to determine the applicability of this part.
(b) The pilot or operator of an ultralight vehicle must, upon request of the Administrator, furnish satisfactory evidence that the vehicle is subject only to the provisions of this part.
SEC 103.5 Waivers.
No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator.
SEC 103.7 Certification and registration.
(a) notwithstanding any other section pertaining to certification of aircraft or their parts or equipment, ultralight vehicles and their component parts and equipment are not required to meet the airworthiness certification standards specified for aircraft or to have certificates airworthiness.
(b) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to airman
certification, operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate
those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates.
(c) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to registration and marking of aircraft, ultralight vehicles are not required to be
registered or bear marking of any type.
SEC. 103.9 Hazardous Operations.
(a) No person may operate any ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a hazard to other persons or property.
(b) No person may allow an object to be dropped from an ultralight vehicle if such action creates a hazard to other persons or property.
SEC 103.11 Daylight Operations.
(a) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, ultralight vehicles may be operated during the twilight period 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;
(1) The vehicle is equipped with an operating anticollision light
visible for at least 3 statute miles; and
(2) All operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace.
SEC 103.13 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules.
(a) Each person operating an ultralight vehicle shall maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid aircraft and shall yield the right-of-way to all aircraft.
(b) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.
(c) powered ultralight shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered
ultralights.
SEC 103.15 Operations over congested areas.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons.
SEC. 103.17 Operations in certain airspace.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle within Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of class E airspace designated for an airport unless that
person has prior authorization from the ATC facility having jurisdiction
over that airspace.
SEC 103.19 Operations in prohibited or restricted areas.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in prohibited or restricted
areas unless that person has permission from the using or controlling
agency, as appropriate.
SEC. 103.20 Flight restrictions in the proximity of certain areas
designated by notice to airmen.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in areas designated in a
Notice to Airmen under Sec 91.143 or Sec 91.141 of this chapter, unless
authorized by ATC.
SEC. 103.21 Visual reference with the surface.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except by visual reference
with the surface.
SEC. 103.23 Flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle when the flight visibility
or distance from clouds is less than that in the table found below. All
operations in Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D airspace or Class E
airspace designated for an airport must receive prior ATC authorization
as required in sec 103.17 of this part
ONE RULE TO REMEMBER: STAY 5 MILES AWAY FROM EVERY AIRPORT OR CALL AND SEE IF YOU CAN FLY IN THEIR SPACE.
