FAA Rules: FAR Part 103 (Ultralight Vehicles)
PART 103--ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES
Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 45-1 [Note]
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. app. 1348, 1354(a), 1421(a), 1422, and 1423; 49 U.S.C. app. 1655(c).
Source: Docket No. 21631, 47 FR 38776, Sept. 2, 1982, unless otherwise noted.
Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 45-1
Editorial Note: For the text of SFAR No. 45-1, see Part 71 of this chapter.
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 unpowered, 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 anticollision 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 unpowered 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: Amdt. 103-4, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17, 1991, revised Sec. 103.17 effective
September 16, 1993. The text of Sec. 130.17 in effect until September 16, 1993 reads as follows:
Sec. 103.17 Operations in certain airspace.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle within an airport traffic area, control zone, airport
radar service area, terminal control area, or positive control area unless that person has prior
authorization from the air traffic control facility having jurisdiction over that airspace.
[Doc. No. 23708, 50 FR 9259, Mar. 6, 1985]
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56 FR 65638, No. 242, Dec. 17, 1991
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) to adopt certain
recommendations of the National Airspace Review (NAR) concerning changes to regulations and
procedures in regard to airspace classifications. These changes are intended to: (1) Simplify
airspace designations; (2) achieve international commonality of airspace designations; (3)
increase standardization of equipment requirements for operations in various classifications of
airspace; (4) describe appropriate pilot certificate requir ements, visual flight rules (VFR)
visibility and distance from cloud rules, and air traffic services offered in each class of
airspace; and (5) satisfy the responsibilities of the United States as a member of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The final rule also amends the requirement for
minimum distance from clouds in certain airspace areas and the requirements for communications
with air traffic control (ATC) in certain airspace areas; eliminates airport radar service areas
(ARSAs), control zones, and terminal control areas (TCAs) as airspace classifications; and
eliminates the term "airport traffic area." The FAA believes simplified airspace classifications
will reduce existing airspace complexity and thereby enhance safety.
EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations become effective September 16, 1993, except that Secs. 11.61(c),
91.215(d), 71.601, 71.603, 71.605, 71.607, and 71.609 and Part 75 become effective December 12,
1991, and except that amendatory instruction number 20, Sec. 71.1, is effective as of December 17,
1991 through September 15, 1993, and that Secs. 71.11 and 71.19 become effective October 15, 1992.
The incorporation by reference of FAA Order 7400.7 in Sec. 71.1 (amendatory instruction number 20)
is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of December 17, 1991, through September 15,
1993. The incorporation by reference of FAA Order 7400.9 in Sec. 71.1 (amendatory instruction
number 24) is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of September 16, 1993 through
September 15, 1994.
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Sec. 103.19 Operations in prohibited or restricted areas.
No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in prohibited or restricted areas u nless 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]
Effective Date Note: At 54 FR 34331, August 18, 1989, Sec. 103.20 was amended by changing the
cross reference "Sec. 91.102 or Sec. 91.104" to read "Sec. 91.143 or Sec. 91.141", effective
August 18, 1990.
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.
Flight Airspace visibility Distance from clouds
Class A Not applicable Not Applicable. Class B 3 statute miles Clear of Clouds. Class C 3 statute
miles 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class D 3 statute miles 500 feet
below.
1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class E: Less than 10,000 feet MSL 3 statute miles 500
feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. At or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 statute miles
1,000 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal. Class G: 1,200 feet or less above
the surface (regardless of MSL altitude) 1 statute mile Clear of clouds. More than 1,200 feet
above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL 1 statute mile 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above.
2,000 feet horizontal. More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL 5
statute miles 1,000 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal.
EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: Amdt. 103-4, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17, 1991, revised Sec. 103.23 effective
September 16, 1993. The text of Sec. 103.23 in effect until September 16, 1993 reads as follows:
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 following table, as appropriate:
Minimum flight
visibility Flight altitudes /1/ Minimum distance from clouds
1,200 feet or less above the surface regardless of MSL altitude: (1) Within controlled airspace 3
500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal. (2) Outside controlled 1 Clear of clouds.
airspace More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL: (1) Within
controlled airspace 3 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal. (2) Outside
controlled 1 500 feet below, 1,000 feet airspace above, 2,000 feet horizontal. More than 1,200
feet above the 5 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet surface and at or above 10,000 above, 1 statute mile
feet MSL horizontal.
/1/ Statute miles.
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56 FR 65638, No. 242, Dec. 17, 1991
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) to adopt certain
recommendations of the National Airspace Review (NAR) concerning changes to regulations and
procedures in regard to airspace classifications. These changes are intended to: (1) Simplify
airspace designations; (2) achieve international commonality of airspace designations; (3)
increase standardization of equipment requirements for operations in various classifications of
airspace; (4) describe appropriate pilot certificate requirements, visual flight rules (VFR)
visibility and distance from cloud rules, and air traffic services offered in each class of
airspace; and (5) satisfy the responsibilities of the United States as a member of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The final rule also amends the requirement for
minimum distance from clouds in certain airspace areas and the requirements for communications
with air traffic control (ATC) in certain airspace areas; eliminates airport radar service areas
(ARSAs), control zones, and terminal control areas (TCAs) as airspace classifications; and
eliminates the term "airport traffic area." The FAA believes simplified airspace classifications
will reduce existing airspace complexity and thereby enhance safety.
EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations become effective September 16, 1993, except that Secs. 11.61(c),
91.215(d), 71.601, 71.603, 71.605, 71.607, and 71.609 and Part 75 become effective December 12,
1991, and except that amendatory instruction number 20, Sec. 71.1, is effective as of December 17,
1991 through September 15, 1993, and that Secs. 71.11 and 71.19 become effective October 15, 1992.
The incorporation by reference of FAA Order 7400.7 in Sec. 71.1 (amendatory instruction number 20)
is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of December 17, 1991, through September 15,
1993. The incorporation by reference of FAA Order 7400.9 in Sec. 71.1 (amendatory instruction
number 24) is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of September 16, 1993 through
September 15, 1994.