barnstorm2
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2003
- Messages
- 14,573
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Aircraft
- 2-place Air Command CLT SxS (project), & Twinstarr Autogyro
- Total Flight Time
- 750+hrs and climbing
Dear Ultralight Pilots,
My first 200ish hours of flying were done in an 'ultralight' AirCommand 447 gyroplane.
During this 2 year time frame I often became frustrated at the attitude many GA and even Experimental pilots, airport owners and airport employees had toward ultralight pilots both gyro and fixed wing.
To me this attitude seemed MORE then unfair.
Ultralight pilots needed the same basic flying skills as GA pilot and in fact sometimes more. Light draggy machines with short range like gyros, FW challengers, quicksilvers and (god help you) weedhoppers are in many ways more difficult to fly then C172s (IMHO).
Furthermore a UL pilot/owner also had to be his own mechanic, had little or no industry support and had to do a great deal more work to find a suitable place to fly.
Eventually, I formed the opinion that UL pilots should be revered over the generic GA pilots since we had to carefully watch the weather, plan our fuel trips, stash mo-gas at local airport in friends hangars, had advanced seat-of-the-pants skills and anyone who put up with all of this HAD TO LOVE TO FLY.
Almost ten years have passed.
Since then I have earned my Private Rotorcraft, Commercial Rotorcraft, Sport Pilot Fixed Wing and now CFI certificates.
Through all of these up until the last few months I have continued to think of UL pilots as 'a breed above' the average GA pilot. Sort of like urban bush pilots if you will.
However, over the past few months I have been dealing more and more with gyro UL pilots, and the stainless image I had is starting to take a few scratches and dings.
I had assumed that UL pilots even though they did not have to have a pilots license would at least READ the Part 103 rules, read some basic ground school books or publications and converse with GA pilots enough to have a fundamental understanding of aircraft and airport operations.
To my horror, I keep running into UL 'pilots' (note now the quotes) that are for some reason convinced that because no pilots license is required that no RULES or REGULATIONS apply to them AT ALL. Also, UL pilots seem to expect to have all of the privileges that certified airmen and aircraft have, you do not.
If that is not bad enough many of these pilots seem to take an attitude when you ask them to comply with even basic safety considerations or point out regulations or procedures that they are supposed to know!
Some day when my budget allows I would like to have my own UL singleplace again. Some day I may get myself into trouble in which case a UL aircraft might be my only choice. I don't want Part 103 to be taken away from us and I don't want to have to deal with poor attitudes toward UL pilots again.
PLEASE for the good of ALL of us.. Consider these points:
1. No license requirement does NOT mean no rules and regulations apply to ultralight pilots and craft. Please read PART 103 (and the rest of the FAR/AIM).
2. Through books, the internet, ground school or what ever means best suits you please do your part to understand airport operations, aviation terms, procedures, safety recommendations and the happenings in the GA pilot community. Also, keep this knowledge up to date.
3. Drop the attitude. Pilots, airport administrators and event organizers are not trying to bully you, old-boy you, punish you or what ever it is that you think is being done that gets your mood bent.
Most likely what is being asked from you is for the good of everyone at that airport or event and the pilots and organizers are confused as to why you don't understand the terminology or rules.
You have to trust me with this one. A GOOD ATTITUDE will cause these and other problems to melt away easily and you will find that everyone who flies will make efforts to help and support you.
Ok, my 2 cents.
It might not mean a hill of beans but I least I got it out.
Thanks!!
Live Long and Prosper Part 103!!!
.
My first 200ish hours of flying were done in an 'ultralight' AirCommand 447 gyroplane.
During this 2 year time frame I often became frustrated at the attitude many GA and even Experimental pilots, airport owners and airport employees had toward ultralight pilots both gyro and fixed wing.
To me this attitude seemed MORE then unfair.
Ultralight pilots needed the same basic flying skills as GA pilot and in fact sometimes more. Light draggy machines with short range like gyros, FW challengers, quicksilvers and (god help you) weedhoppers are in many ways more difficult to fly then C172s (IMHO).
Furthermore a UL pilot/owner also had to be his own mechanic, had little or no industry support and had to do a great deal more work to find a suitable place to fly.
Eventually, I formed the opinion that UL pilots should be revered over the generic GA pilots since we had to carefully watch the weather, plan our fuel trips, stash mo-gas at local airport in friends hangars, had advanced seat-of-the-pants skills and anyone who put up with all of this HAD TO LOVE TO FLY.
Almost ten years have passed.
Since then I have earned my Private Rotorcraft, Commercial Rotorcraft, Sport Pilot Fixed Wing and now CFI certificates.
Through all of these up until the last few months I have continued to think of UL pilots as 'a breed above' the average GA pilot. Sort of like urban bush pilots if you will.
However, over the past few months I have been dealing more and more with gyro UL pilots, and the stainless image I had is starting to take a few scratches and dings.
I had assumed that UL pilots even though they did not have to have a pilots license would at least READ the Part 103 rules, read some basic ground school books or publications and converse with GA pilots enough to have a fundamental understanding of aircraft and airport operations.
To my horror, I keep running into UL 'pilots' (note now the quotes) that are for some reason convinced that because no pilots license is required that no RULES or REGULATIONS apply to them AT ALL. Also, UL pilots seem to expect to have all of the privileges that certified airmen and aircraft have, you do not.
If that is not bad enough many of these pilots seem to take an attitude when you ask them to comply with even basic safety considerations or point out regulations or procedures that they are supposed to know!
Some day when my budget allows I would like to have my own UL singleplace again. Some day I may get myself into trouble in which case a UL aircraft might be my only choice. I don't want Part 103 to be taken away from us and I don't want to have to deal with poor attitudes toward UL pilots again.
PLEASE for the good of ALL of us.. Consider these points:
1. No license requirement does NOT mean no rules and regulations apply to ultralight pilots and craft. Please read PART 103 (and the rest of the FAR/AIM).
2. Through books, the internet, ground school or what ever means best suits you please do your part to understand airport operations, aviation terms, procedures, safety recommendations and the happenings in the GA pilot community. Also, keep this knowledge up to date.
3. Drop the attitude. Pilots, airport administrators and event organizers are not trying to bully you, old-boy you, punish you or what ever it is that you think is being done that gets your mood bent.
Most likely what is being asked from you is for the good of everyone at that airport or event and the pilots and organizers are confused as to why you don't understand the terminology or rules.
You have to trust me with this one. A GOOD ATTITUDE will cause these and other problems to melt away easily and you will find that everyone who flies will make efforts to help and support you.
Ok, my 2 cents.
It might not mean a hill of beans but I least I got it out.
Thanks!!
Live Long and Prosper Part 103!!!
.
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