Ultralight aircraft (United States)

United States definition of "ultralight"

• 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 empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices
• * Has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 U.S. gallons
• * Has a top speed of 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight
• * Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots 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
• * The flight is only in uncontrolled airspace