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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?

#131

Post by hadlock »

quasarj wrote: post #44
blt wrote: post #31

> You don’t need a license to operate these aircraft because they’re easy enough to fly that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t see the need to regulate them. I don't think that's the reason. The reason is that they are unlikely to hurt anyone besides the pilot in a crash. They can have an engine failure, stall-spin, or fly into a cloud just as readily as any other plane. Those are the biggest risks fo…

Flying into a cloud is a big risk? They're everywhere!

In plains states like Texas you end up with these super tall (500+ ft tall) 200'+ diameter convective clouds that have massive downdrafts and rain in the middle. Like a floating, wandering storm cell. On the outside they just look like tall white fluffy clouds on a sunny dry day. All sorts of atmospheric hazards.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#132

Post by colanderman »

paulddraper wrote: post #117
grepfru_it wrote: post #73

Unpopular opinion but technically correct answer: you can fly any plane without a pilots license. In fact I just saw a Quora question with this exact question and the answer came from a 60 year old pilot that has been flying without a license for 30 years. If you never fly out of a major airport where an FAA inspector can ramp check you, who will ever find out? Please don’t do this.

I'm a private pilot. This is basically correct. If your airport is small and you never get in trouble with ATC or have an emergency situation, you will probably not get caught. However, if you do get caught, it is a criminal charge with (IIRC) up to $250,000 fine and 6 years prison time. Or worse, you overestimate your ability and die/kill people. I wouldn't take that risk. If you want to fly a lot, get a license. If…

> If you have been professionally diagnosed with ADHD, the FAA bans you from any pilot's license ever, even a student license.

I'm not sure this is literally true? https://adhdrollercoaster.org/adhd-news-and-research/faa-gui... and https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/AI_ADHD_ADD.pdf seem to disagree, only that ADHD medication is a no-go.

I definitely know someone who is a licensed private pilot and instructor who was diagnosed with ADHD when young and has taken medication for it. (I don't know whether he had to stop medication and be reevaluated to be licensed, presumably he did per the above link.)

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#133

Post by godelski »

operatingthetan wrote: post #125
paulddraper wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have no idea how many professional pilots avoid seeking mental health treatment. Because it would literally destroy their career. Kinda scary actually.

That's a huge perverse incentive. Doesn't make me feel safer!

Same is true for a lot of government jobs, especially things that require a security clearance. Ironically this makes people vulnerable to exactly what these institutions are most afraid of: blackmail.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#134

Post by oceanplexian »

taneq wrote: post #114
amluto wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Hell, you probably don't even need to register that car. In California at least, you are required to file for “planned non-operation”, which is inexpensive but not free.

Is that the same as de-registering the car? In Australia if you have a car that you don't intend to drive on the road, you can just hand the number plates back. They refund the remainder of your licensing fees and you're done. The car can still be driven (even without a driver's license) on private land, just not public roads. If you want to drive it on the road again, you have to re-register it and get it inspected.

The California DMV hates people who own cars with a passion. I moved out of California and forgot to inform them, so 2 years later they levied my bank account for $500 of unpaid vehicle registration fees. Oh yeah, registering a car costs several hundred dollars per year.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#135

Post by travisjungroth »

sugarkjube wrote: post #126
digi59404 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, I’ve personally met someone who this exact scenario applied too. His father flew planes in WW2 then came back and flew crop dusters. As a kid his father would let him fly and taught him how. He never went and got his FAA License. He just flew small planes like Cessnas to/from private areas. No one ever bothered him or asked him for his license.

He probably didn't tell you the whole story. Of course, if one has learned to fly, one can. And a license is just paperwork. But there is more to flying, like getting an aircraft, and getting insurance. Want to rent an aircraft? you'll not only need a license but also a check out. You don't always have to show your license, but sometimes they do ask. Also no license, means no insurance.

I was a pilot and have personally known about situations such as these, in detail. It happens.

They don’t rent airplanes, they buy them. Sellers usually don’t check licenses. They don’t get insurance. If you don’t get ramp checked (random FAA check of pilot) or crash, there’s no reason it will get checked.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#136

Post by m4rtink »

bagels wrote: post #129
pixelatedindex wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I were a kid, I’d be livid to not get free flights. I always wanted to fly - I think the first time I ever got on a plane was in high school and I remember being glued to the window almost the whole time. Incidentally, I just learned about ultralights not needing a license last week and there are some really affordable ones for like 16K: http://www.uflyit.com/aerolite103main.htm There are more manufacturers here:…

Ultralights are one-seat by definition. I'm not sure most elementary school kids could handle actually flying one of those.

Um, I'm pretty sure there are two seat ultralight airplanes - at least here in the Czech Republic. And IIRC that's also the maximum number of people that can fly on an ultralight here.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#137

Post by wkat4242 »

Wow here in Europe you need a license for ultralights as well. Not quite as rigid in terms of requirements and the medical is easier too. But you still need one.

I've flown gliders also which meet these criteria too and they need it as well.

I think it makes sense though. You can still hurt people on the ground and more importantly, you could endanger other air traffic. Airspace in Europe is too dense for people not to know what they're doing. This is why every aircraft needs a mode S transponder now too at the very minimum.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#138

Post by wkat4242 »

m4rtink wrote: post #136
bagels wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ultralights are one-seat by definition. I'm not sure most elementary school kids could handle actually flying one of those.

Um, I'm pretty sure there are two seat ultralight airplanes - at least here in the Czech Republic. And IIRC that's also the maximum number of people that can fly on an ultralight here.

Yes the categorization in Europe seems to differ a lot. I flew in a Czech ultralight once, it was a Lambada, I forget the manufacturer. Very nice aircraft by the way. Just very very cramped with its 2 abreast seating.

Re: What planes can you fly without a pilot’s license?

#139

Post by wkat4242 »

bagels wrote: post #129
pixelatedindex wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I were a kid, I’d be livid to not get free flights. I always wanted to fly - I think the first time I ever got on a plane was in high school and I remember being glued to the window almost the whole time. Incidentally, I just learned about ultralights not needing a license last week and there are some really affordable ones for like 16K: http://www.uflyit.com/aerolite103main.htm There are more manufacturers here:…

Ultralights are one-seat by definition. I'm not sure most elementary school kids could handle actually flying one of those.

So how is flight training handled for those I wonder?
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