AUCKLAND REGIONAL MICROLIGHT AERO CLUB. (ARMAC)
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Microlighting Explained.
The following article was written for the Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand (RAANZ) magazine. It is important to note that there are two Organzations who currently hold delegations from CAA to control microlighting. The other oganzation is the Sport Aviation Corporation (SAC). ARMAC as a club holds no alligence to one organization or the other but individual members within the club will no dodbt hold aligence to one organization or the other. SAC has had to under go similar changes as noted below and its members are required to obide by the same CAA regulations.
Microlighting
With the influx high performance microlights and the recent upgrade of our manual it seems timely to restate what microlighting and RAANZ is and does respectively.
Microlights were borne from hang gliders and were very low performance aircraft with a limited range, the last 20 years has seen huge growth in the sport along with exponential advances in technology. This has led to the development of aircraft which can have cruise speeds in excess of 140 knots. Microlights are low momentum aircraft as defined in
CAA Advisory Circular AC103 1:-
A one or two seat aircraft whose stall speed, in the landing configuration, at maximum gross weight does not exceed 45 knots, and having a maximum gross weight of:
• 544 kg for landplanes
• 579 kg for a single-place seaplane or amphibian
• 614 kg for a two-place seaplane or amphibian
This has given rise to aircraft like the Technam or Alpi at the top end but the popularity of slower open cockpit aircraft like the Bantam is still very high.
Microlights are divided into two categories Class 1 single place or Class 2 two place, Class 2 microlights are exempt from requiring type certification but are required to have a permit to fly the requirements for which are set out in CAA part 103. Class 1 microlights are not required to have a permit to fly but all microlights are required to undergo an annual condition inspection.
The risk to the public is mitigated by the following restrictions as per part 103.155 Flight criteria:
(a) A pilot shall only operate a microlight aircraft—
(1) by day; and
(2) in VFR meteorological minima equal to or better than those prescribed in 91.301.
(b) A pilot of a microlight aircraft shall not operate—
(1) over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement; or
(2) in controlled airspace or within 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) of an aerodrome certificated under Part 139 unless—
(i) the pilot has gained a pass in the air law examination required by 61.153(a)(6)(i) or an equivalent examination; or
(ii) the pilot is under the direct supervision of the holder of a microlight pilot instructor certificate who meets the requirement of paragraph (b)(2)(i).
RAANZ (Recreational Aircraft Association of NZ) is certified under part 149 to administer microlighting as defined in part 103. The association holds delegation authority from CAA to issue flight certificates, authorize modifications and perform annual condition inspections.
RAANZ has recently upgraded it procedures and exam structure with particular emphasis on air law. We have four levels of proficiency starting from 'novice' through 'Intermediate' to 'Advanced Local' and 'Advanced National'. The novice and Intermediate are training levels where as the Advanced are full certificate levels. With the increasing popularity of the higher performance aircraft it was realized that the pilots of these aircraft would be travelling greater distances and in so doing would undoubtedly encounter controlled airspace. This is why the two 'Advanced' certificates came into being. The advanced local allows the pilot to fly within 50nm of their base and must stay clear of controlled airspace but other wise has no restrictions. The Advanced National pilot on the other hand has no distance restrictions but must have FRTO and controlled airspace training. To gain 'Advanced National' the pilot will have done a minimum of 45 hours. All advanced pilots are required to undergo a BFR. If a pilot has a current part 61 license then all that is required to fly a microlight is a type rating issued by an appropriately rated instructor.
Microlight instructors are divided into provisional and senior, a pilot must have a minimum of 150hrs flight time before being considered suitable as a provisional instructor, a further 50hrs of instruction time and a minimum of 200hrs are required before an upgrade will be considered. Microlight instructors are overseen by a network of ATO's (approved testing officer) who are appointed by the RAANZ exec; they must have a minimum of 500hrs flight time 100 of which must have been instructional. All instructors and ATO's are required to carry out an annual flight review.
If a part 61 instructor wishes to instruct on microlights they must first gain a type rating for the aircraft being used, they are not required to undergo a RAANZ flight test as long as the part 61 license remains current. Part 61 instructors who have been issued with a RAANZ instructor rating must maintain RAANZ membership.
The medical requirements to fly a microlight are less stringent than those required for GA pilots; the examination can be preformed by your GP. The standard is similar to the Land Transport system for a bus driver. Once again the risks are mitigated by the restrictions in the flight criteria listed above.
The intention of this article is to help dispel any myths or preconceptions that may exist about microlighting, for further detail please proceed to the RAANZ website http://raanz.org.nz/index.html
or
Sport Aviation Corp (SAC)
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Last updated 3/12/2005 20:11:31
