Originally posted by Tim Vasquez
In the US, ultralights are not allowed to have more than one passenger, though tandem 2-person ultralights are used for training purposes. I think beyond that, it's considered to be an airplane and a pilot license is required. I'm about 90% sure this is the case, as my dad flew both for awhile.
The true definition of an ultralight is:
(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;
© Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and
(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or
(e) If powered:
1. 1. Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;
2. 2. Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 US. gallons;
3. 3. Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and
4. 4. Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed.
The above definition is for a true Part 103 ultralight which anybody can go fly without getting any type of training. People were getting seriously hurt or killed trying to fly their new toy, so an exemption to the Part 103 rules was created allowing 2 place ultralights to be used for instruction purposes. The exemption allowed a weight increase to 496 pounds, 10 gallons of fuel, and a little more speed. A passenger is not allowed in a 2 place machine, the second occupant always has to be a student.
Today, most ultralights are actually 2 place trainers, although the pilots flying them are not nessecarily instructors. They are either breaking the rules or they are "pseudo-instructors", they have an instructor rating so they can fly their ultralight legally and take a "student" up with them. These students are usually their buddy, wife, or girlfriend.
I am an instructor and I do a little bit of instructing, however most of the time when I am flying dual, the occupant is usually just going for a ride with me.
Since the 2 place training exemption is abused so much, ultralighting is now undergoing a big change. September 1st introduced a new rule called Sport Pilot. All 2 place ultralights and the people flying them will have to move into Sport Pilot which will make this a regulated sport with N numbers and pilots license.
This will be cheaper and easier then getting your Private Pilots license, but it will be more expensive and more knowledge will be required then the way it has been done in the past.
The true 103 type of ultralights will still be able to fly like they always have without being regulated, however the training excemption is going away in a few years. I am looking forward to becoming a sport pilot, however there seems to be many ultralighters who are very against it.
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