Pretty insane you can fly these with no license or certificates when basically all drones require having your TRUST certificate or full on drone license to fly.
What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
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Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#12Setting the legalities aside, flying any of these without the training behind a pilot's license sounds like a great way to have some fun, right up until you have a really bad day. Maybe you can skip the license---I haven't looked at those regs myself---but you can't skip the skills.
(I'd also want to take a hard look at the design, parts, and maintenance before I flew something like this---but I don't really have the training or experience to do that. I know some people who I might trust to do it for me, but I think they all have A&P certificates. Again, maybe you can take shortcuts & skip the expensive, highly trained mechanic, but that shortcut may not take you where you want to go.)
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#13The Mirocopter SCH-2A meets the FAA requirements so it doesn't require a pilots license. You can buy it for $35k on Ebay [0]. It's cheaper than most cars and gas wise (5 gallons for 50min for flight time) would make it about the same cost as commuting to work in a car. 0. https://www.ebay.com/itm/354879150317
The article doesn't really cover it but being able to fly without a license probably isn't the same as flying near a controlled (ie. towered) airport. If want to commute and aren't in the middle of nowhere you might find that flying in your local airspace does require a radio license in practice at least.
Source: I am a licensed pilot but not familiar with flying in the US.
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#14Setting the legalities aside, flying any of these without the training behind a pilot's license sounds like a great way to have some fun, right up until you have a really bad day. Maybe you can skip the license---I haven't looked at those regs myself---but you can't skip the skills. (I'd also want to take a hard look at the design, parts, and maintenance before I flew something like this---but I don't really have the…
Part 103 compliant aircraft are meant to have limits low enough to be LESS immediately lethal, but they are still dangerous.
Maintenance is absolutely a possible issue, and due to their restrictions the engines are generally MORE needy than normal GA aircraft.
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#15That covers what you can fly. There are also restrictions on when and where you can fly. These are daytime VFR [1] conditions only, only in uncontrolled airspace, cannot fly over cites or towns or large groups of people, cannot create hazards to other people or property, must yield right of way to other aircraft, and must comply with all FAA NOTAMs [2].
[1] Visual Flight Rules. VFR conditions are conditions where you can operate and navigate primarily relying on what you can see outside the aircraft. As opposed to IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) where you can rely entirely on your instruments and do not need to see anything outside.
[2] originally Notice to Airmen (now Notice to Air Missions if one wants to take into account female pilots). Notices that the FAA publishes about potential hazards or events that might affect flights. For example if some airspace is temporarily closed because of military activity, there would be a NOTAM to let civilian pilots know that they have to avoid that airspace.
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#16The Mirocopter SCH-2A meets the FAA requirements so it doesn't require a pilots license. You can buy it for $35k on Ebay [0]. It's cheaper than most cars and gas wise (5 gallons for 50min for flight time) would make it about the same cost as commuting to work in a car. 0. https://www.ebay.com/itm/354879150317
The article doesn't really cover it but being able to fly without a license probably isn't the same as flying near a controlled (ie. towered) airport. If want to commute and aren't in the middle of nowhere you might find that flying in your local airspace does require a radio license in practice at least. Source: I am a licensed pilot but not familiar with flying in the US.
You are correct. Knowing the airspace is required under Part 103, and operating an aircraft under those rules puts you under the legal requirements of Part 103.
If you want to know more the entire document is only a couple pages:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F...
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#17this is amazing, I had no idea you could just skip the license if u use a tiny plane.
You can also get a pilot's license at 14 years old in many parts of the US. That said, do so with caution. Flying is still dangerous and accidents will often be fatal, license or no. Note the provisions about "no passengers allowed". One reason these planes don't require licenses is that the risk of collateral damage is low enough to be comparable to a car. You can hurt yourself quite badly while not endangering othe…
I'm not sure about power licenses, but for gliders (sailplanes, not hang-gliders), you could solo at 14 via a student license that required instructor supervision. You could get a full license at 16.
Growing up my family was into gliding (sailplanes) and I counted down the days until I was 14 so I could solo. Looking back, especially w/ a 14 yr old kid of my own...I think my parents were crazy for letting me fly, but I'm really glad they did. I have a medical condition and so couldn't reasonably fly power planes. This was before the power "sport-license" that is a good compromise between access for hobbyists and a regular license.
The comment about risks if very true. These types of activities can have real risks. It is sobering seeing a friend have a fatal accident. (With gliding it is almost always trying to make it back to an airport, getting too low and having a stall/spin close to the ground).
If anyone is near southwest ohio in the us....I'd highly suggest checking out Caesars Creek Soaring Club: https://www.facebook.com/CaesarCreekSoaringClub/
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#18The relevant CFR, typically known as Part 103:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F...
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
The article doesn't really cover it but being able to fly without a license probably isn't the same as flying near a controlled (ie. towered) airport. If want to commute and aren't in the middle of nowhere you might find that flying in your local airspace does require a radio license in practice at least. Source: I am a licensed pilot but not familiar with flying in the US.
You are correct. Knowing the airspace is required under Part 103, and operating an aircraft under those rules puts you under the legal requirements of Part 103. If you want to know more the entire document is only a couple pages: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F...
I was wondering how access to class D airspace would work for an unlicensed ultralight pilot. Can they get a radio? Would they need a [radio] license both for themselves and for the aircraft? Is that practical to acquire without a PPL? Or, without a radio, would ATC approval for a flight be available over the phone before departure instead or would that be out of the question?
For a regular pilot this is all just automatic with flight following of course.
Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?
#20Pretty insane you can fly these with no license or certificates when basically all drones require having your TRUST certificate or full on drone license to fly.
1. These can only be flown in most class E airspace and class G, so not anywhere close to most airports
2. They are much bigger and more visible than drones
3. The ultralight pilot is inside the aircraft which means “see and avoid” is much more reasonable
It’s hard to compare ultralights to drones IMO as a licensed pilot