Informatie about Ultra-Light flying
If you fly an Ultra-Light aircraft, you fly with a very light aircraft that can contain 1 ore 2 persons. You can fly with an Ultra-Light Aircraft (ULA) for fun or to travel, but ULA's are also used by the fire brigade (forest fire watch) and police (environment watch). ULA's can also be used as a crop duster plane. In the Netherlands and in the USA, the police uses an ULA and in France, an ULA is used by the army. Because of there low air speed, an ULA is extremely suitable to take aerial photographes.
In the Netherlands we haven't got a real Ultra-Light pilot's licence. The RLD is still working with an exemption. Other countries do have special ULA-pilot's licences.
To fly Ultra-Light you've got to be 16 years or older. You also need a medical approbation. Glasses aren't a problem. In comparison with traditional aircrafts, the regulations aren't very problematic. You don't need a previous schooling. Before you really can fly the plane by yourself, you've got to have completed your theory and practice examination successfully.
For the practice examination you need a practical flight experience of 25 hours, with 10 hours as soloist included. You can compare the theory-examination with the theory-examination that you need for a pilot's licence A of the RLD. To keep your pilot's licence valid, you've got to fly 10 hours a year at least.
You can, if you like, follow a Radio-Telephonie course. That enables you to handle the radio, when you're flying.
Now the maybe most important thing: The aircraft. Of course you can buy an ULA yourself. If you pay $20,000 you can have a good aircraft. The selling prices range from $10,000 to $40,000. A normal little Cessna soon costs $75,000. But you can also rent an ULA. You can even built one yourself. Construction kits are available!
In the Netherlands there are 4 official ULA landing sites at the moment:
You can fly during uniform day-light time and when the visibility is minimal 1,5 km.
Ultra-Light flying is the cheapest way of motoraviation. You can have your pilot's licence for $3,500 . The rent and selling prices are also low. You can have a good ULA for only $20,000.