LEARNING TO FLY

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Learning in a Foxbat

Recreational Flying in Australia

Pilot Licensing - the nitty gritty

Flying for non-pilot partners

Recreational flying in Australia

This section aims to give you an overall idea of private recreational flying in Australia.

Although orientated to the A22 Foxbat, much of this information is applicable to all Recreational and Light Sport Aircraft.

Introduction

Much to do with aviation is about weight – unlike a road vehicle, weight is very important in aircraft. All aircraft of whatever type (from small single engine planes to Airbus A380s) have a maximum permitted (or certified) take-off weight, or MTOW. This weight includes the aircraft itself, the pilot and passenger(s), luggage, fuel, in fact everything.

This weight is calculated by the designers to be the maximum safe limit for the aircraft to avoid overstressing, bending and/or breaking the wings and other components during flight. This weight is also a function of other items, like speed. The faster the aircraft goes, the more stress loads are experienced during turbulence, turns and landing. So the faster it will fly, the stronger it has to be to carry the same load as a slower aircraft.

However, making an aircraft stronger also means making it heavier. For an airliner, this is not so much of a problem. But for very light aircraft, which have strict weight limits, this can present interesting design challenges.

As a result, light aircraft in Australia have different classifications according to their maximum weight limits.

Recreational Aircraft

Many of the definitions of particular types of light aircraft centre mostly but not entirely round weight limits. So to be registered in Australia, a Recreational Aircraft must conform to the specifications shown below, irrespective of what the designer and manufacturer specify. For example, they may be designed to carry more weight but to fly legally as a Recreational Aircraft, they must not be flown over the legal weight limit for these types of aircraft.

The original idea behind these aircraft was that they have much less weight, and have a slow speed capability and therefore much less inertia than a more conventional General Aviation (Cessna, Piper etc) aircraft and so in an accident are (a) less likely to hurt their occupants, and (b) damage property or people on the ground.

Recreational Aircraft in Australia are administered by Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus) based in Canberra.

Recreational Aircraft – basic limitations

There is no maximum speed limit for recreational aircraft.

Retractable landing gear may be fitted and used.

In-flight variable pitch propellers may be used.

There are quite a few restrictions on where you can fly and what you can use your Recreational Aircraft for – see 'Pilot Licensing - the nitty gritty' in this section for more detail.

The A22L Foxbat conforms to the Recreational Aircraft limitations and therefore is licensed through RA-Aus in Australia.

What is a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)?

Back in 2000, aviation authorities in the USA devised a new category of aircraft – Light Sport Aircraft (or LSA) – in an effort to reduce the costs of learning to fly and buying an aircraft. This was achieved by publishing an extensive series of ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards to which these aircraft should be built, their flying characteristics conform to, and many other aspects. Provided the manufacturer accepts liability – quite a major item in USA – in return, the comprehensive and expensive General Aviation certificate of airworthiness was waived.

In 2006 Australian Authorities adopted the same ASTM standards and LSA principle, albeit with some differences in aircraft limitations. In May 2006 the Evektor SportStar was the very first LSA ever to be certified in Australia.

LSAs in Australia are administered both by Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus) and by CASA. The owner may choose which route to register, depending on their flying license and flying requirements.

Australian LSAs must conform to the following standards/limitations. Please note, these limitations are sometimes different from USA limits.

Light Sport Aircraft – basic limitations

There is no maximum speed limit for LSAs in Australia (120 knots in USA).

Retractable landing gear may not be fitted and used in Australia (nor in USA) except in seaplanes, where ‘re-positionable’ landing gear is permitted in both countries.

In-flight variable pitch propellers may be used in Australia (but not in USA).

There are quite a few restrictions on where you can fly and what you can use your LSA for – see 'Pilot Licensing - the nitty gritty' in this section for more detail.

The A22LS Foxbat conforms to the LSA limitations and can be registered either with CASA or RA-Aus.

What is a microlight aircraft?

Outside Australia, the term ‘microlight’ frequently refers to a wide variety of Recreational Aircraft along similar lines to those above – albeit with different weight and other limitations.

Inside Australia, the term ‘microlight’ has come to be synonymous with powered hang-gliders (often known as trikes or flexwings).

As the A22 Foxbat is not a powered hang-glider, we will not go into more detail about these types of aircraft. However, if you want more information, either click here for RA-Aus or here for the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA).