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PART 103--ULTRALIGHT
VEHICLES
Subpart A--General
Sec.
103.1 Applicability.
103.3 Inspection
requirements.
103.5 Waivers.
103.7 Certification and
registration.
Subpart B--Operating Rules
103.9 Hazardous operations.
103.11 Daylight operations.
103.13 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way
rules.
103.15 Operations over congested
areas.
103.17 Operations in certain
airspace.
103.19 Operations in prohibited or restricted
areas.
103.20 Flight restrictions in the proximity of certain areas
designated by notice to airmen.
103.21 Visual reference with the
surface.
103.23
Flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103-40104, 40113, 44701.
Source: Docket No. 21631, 47 FR 38776, Sept. 2, 1982, unless otherwise noted.
Subpart A--General
Sec. 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 un-powered, 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.
Sec. 103.3 Inspection requirements.
(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.
Sec. 103.5 Waivers.
No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part
except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator.
Sec. 103.7 Certification and
registration.
(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 be registered or to bear
markings of any type.
Subpart B--Operating Rules
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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.
(b) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a
collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.
(c) Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to un-powered ultralights.
Sec. 103.15 Operations over congested
areas.
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.
Sec. 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 ATC facility having jurisdiction over that airspace.
[Amdt 103-17,56 FR 65662, Dec 17 1991]
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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 Sec. 91.143 or Sec. 91.141 of this chapter, unless authorized by
ATC.
[Doc. No. 24454, 50 FR 4969, Feb. 5, 1985, as amended by Amdt. 103-3, 54 FR
34331, Aug. 18, 1989]
Sec. 103.21 Visual reference with the surface.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except by visual reference with
the surface.
Sec. 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 found 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
Sec. 103.17 of this part.
