The FAA and FAR 103

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates all forms of flight in the U.S. and there is a specific regulation that pertains to the operation of ultralight vehicles - FAR 103. This particular Federal Aviation Regulation has been part of the flying community for a long time and we are expected to know its limitations and boundaries as they pertain to paragliding.

Paragliders are technically considered ultralight vehicles - by definition, an ultralight vehicle is one 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 unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or
E. if powered:

a. Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation.
b. Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S.gallons.
c. Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight. d. Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed.

Inspection Requirements

1. 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.

2. 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.

Waivers

No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator.

Certification and Registration

1. Not withstanding 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.

2. Not withstanding 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.

3. Not withstanding any other section pertaining to registration and marking of aircraft, ultralight vehicles are not required to bear markings of any type. 


Hazardous Operations

1. No person may operate any ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a haz- ard to other persons or property.

2. No person may allow an object to be dropped from an ultralight vehicle if such action creates a hazard to other persons or property. 


Daylight Operations

1. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except between the hours of sun- rise and sunset.

2. 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:

   a. the vehicle is equipped with an operating anti-collision light visible for at least 3 statute miles; and

   b. all operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace. 


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.

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.

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.


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.