FAA Part 103 Regulations

 

All single-pilot Powered Paragliders in the United States operate under the Ultralight Flight Provisions of the FAA Reguations, Part 103. All Power Para Gator Members know and abide by the provisions and restrictions of FAA Part 103.
General FAA describes a powered ultralight vehicle as a vehicle that:
* Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant (through exemptions, FAA allows 2-place ultralights to be used for instruction only - see below);
* Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;
* Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and:
* Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;
* Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;
* Is not capable of more than 55 knots (63 mph) calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and
* Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots (28 mph) calibrated airspeed.
 

Operating Rules
* No person may operate any ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a hazard to other persons or property.* 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 
* No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except between the hours of sunrise and sunset. 
* Notwithstanding [the paragraph above], 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:
- The vehicle is equipped with an operating anticollision light visible for at least 3 statute miles; and
- All operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace.
 

Operation Near Aircraft - Right-of-Way Rules
* 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.
* No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a collision hazard with respect to any aircraft.
* Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered ultralights [hang gliders, ultralight sailplanes, etc.].

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.
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 Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility having jurisdiction over that airspace.
Visual Reference With the Surface 
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except by visual reference with the surface.
 
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.