Rating System - FAA Regulation - SOP-12-4 Revised 03/98
United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc. Standard Operating Procedures - 12-4
PART 103 - FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES
SUBPART A - GENERAL 103.3 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS 103.5 WAIVERS 103.7 CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION
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 U.S. 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.
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.
No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator.
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 of 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 bear markings of any type.
SUBPART B - OPERATING RULES
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.
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 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:
1) the vehicle is equipped with an operating anti-collision light visible for at least 3 statute miles; and
2) all operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace.
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.
2. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.
3. Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered ultralights.
103.15 OPERATING OVER CONGESTED AREA
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.
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 air traffic control facility (ATC) having jurisdiction over that airspace.
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.
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 §91.143* or §91.141** of this chapter unless authorized by ATC.
* §91.143: Flight limitation in the proximity of space flight operations.
- No person may operate any aircraft of U.S. registry, or pilot any aircraft under the authority of an airman certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration within areas designated in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for space flight operations except when authorized by ATC, or operated under the control of the Department of Defense Manager for Space Transportation System Contingency Support Operations.
** §91.141: Flight restrictions in the proximity of the Presidential and other parties.
- No person may operate an aircraft over or in the vicinity of any area to be visited or traveled by the President, the Vice President, or other public figures contrary to the restrictions established by the Administrator and published in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
103.21 VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE SURFACE
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except by visual reference with the surface.
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 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 §103.17 of this part.
| AIRSPACE | FLIGHT VISIBILITY | DIST FROM CLOUDS |
| Class A | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Class B | 3 statute miles | Clear of clouds |
| Class C | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal |
| Class D | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal |
| Class E Less than 10,000 feet MSL | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal |
| Class E At or above 10,000 feet MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 feet below 1,000 feet above 1 statute mile horizontal |
| Class G 1,200 feet or less above the surface( regardless of MSL altitude) | 1 statute mile | Clear of clouds |
| More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL | 1 statute mile | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal |
| More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 feet below 1,000 feet above 1 statute mile horizontal |
I'm an aviation enthusiast with a deep understanding of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and the specific regulations outlined in Part 103 for ultralight vehicles in the United States. My expertise stems from a comprehensive knowledge of aviation regulations and a passion for the intricacies of flight operations.
Now, let's delve into the information related to the concepts outlined in the provided article:
PART 103 - FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES
103.1 APPLICABILITY
This section outlines the rules governing the operation of ultralight vehicles in the U.S. An ultralight vehicle is defined based on criteria such as single-occupancy, recreational or sport use, lack of airworthiness certificate, and specific weight limits for powered and unpowered vehicles.
103.3 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
Operators must allow the Administrator or designated personnel to inspect the ultralight vehicle upon request. The pilot or operator must provide satisfactory evidence that the vehicle is subject only to Part 103.
103.5 WAIVERS
Operations requiring a deviation from Part 103 must have a written waiver issued by the Administrator.
103.7 CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION
Ultralight vehicles are exempt from airworthiness certification standards, aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements, and registration/markings.
SUBPART B - OPERATING RULES
103.9 HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a hazard to others or property. Dropping objects creating hazards is also prohibited.
103.11 DAYLIGHT OPERATIONS
Ultralight vehicles may operate between sunrise and sunset, with twilight operations allowed under specific conditions.
103.13 OPERATION NEAR AIRCRAFT; RIGHT-OF-WAY RULES
Operators must maintain vigilance to avoid aircraft, yield the right-of-way, and avoid creating collision hazards.
103.15 OPERATING OVER CONGESTED AREA
Operating over congested areas or open air assemblies of persons is prohibited.
103.17 TO 103.21 - OPERATIONS IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AND SPECIAL AREAS
These sections cover restrictions on operating in controlled airspace, prohibited or restricted areas, and areas designated by Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
103.23 FLIGHT VISIBILITY AND CLOUD CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
Specifies visibility and cloud clearance requirements for different classes of airspace for ultralight vehicle operations.
This summary provides an overview of the key concepts in the article regarding Part 103 regulations for ultralight vehicles in the United States. If you have specific questions or need further clarification on any point, feel free to ask.
