Microlights

[hc4361]

Are there any rules regarding the flying of these machines? Most of yesterday and today there have been at least 2 continually flying overhead in a big loop. The noise is one thing, lack of privacy the other.

All advice welcome

[EDDIE51]

As long as they stay under 2,000ft and away from the restricted areas around airports/flight paths they can more or less do as they like I think.

[hc4361]

:( No minimum height they should be flying at?

[Answerprancer]

Lack of privacy!? I would think the last thing on the mind of a microlight flyist is what colour your knickers are.
If it was my garden being air-raided I'd be out there with me video camera!

[EDDIE51]

The smallest ones that you just strap onto your back do not even need a licence!
http://www.bmaa.org/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=2602
I am not aware of any restrictions as to the lowest height to fly but to be safe you need to be well above the trees and buildings, common sense.

[hc4361]

Plenty to video, AP. I'm very close to a major hospital so the air ambulance is often overhead, not far from a small airport so all manner of gliders, small airplanes and now microlights.
The police helicopter is often overhead but that's a different story.

[hc4361]

Oh! I forgot the hot air balloons and advertising Zeppelin things, too

[Milvus]

Have a look here HC. They are not supposed to fly over villages and towns below 1500 ft (CAA rules)
http://www.arun.gov.uk/main.cfm?type=AIRCRAFT

[hc4361]

That's the information I wanted. Thanks, Milvus

[Clanad]

I'd advise caution in taking the ad hoc advice of the link provided by Milvus since it doesn't quote the actual Regulation.

Here in the U.S., we have similar Regulations, but the wording of the restriction on altitudes is always preceded by the statement, "except when landing or taking off". This tends to negate some enforcement since the (as known here) Ultra-light Vehicle operators plead that they are in the process of landing and therefore, aren't held to the minimum altitude restrictions.

Most of the regulations adopted by many countries in the world have a lot similarity, due to the membership of the various country in ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) based in Montreal, Canada. While there are always going to be differences, ICAO tends to be a leveling function...

[EDDIE51]

As said the very small 'foot launched' micro lights can land and take off from a large garden they do not use airports or runways so they woulds just claim to be looking for a landing spot. Anyway how are you going to identify them to make a complaint? They do not have to be registered so they have no ID marking like a 'proper' plane or even a glider has to have . They count as 'powered kites or parachutes' not as an aircraft.

[Clanad]

Eddie51 is right ( as he is a lot of the time)… such craft are listed in the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) here in the U.S. as Ultra-light Vehicles so as to separate them from other types of actual aircraft.

Not wanting to give the imprimatur of aircraft to such shoddy pieces of workman ship as most these are is one of the primary reasons...

[beso]

There is a definite lack of regulation and an even bigger lack of respect by some of their pilots.

I wonder if there any regulations controlling actions that happen to knock them out of the sky? Like flying a kite that suspends a net into their path.

[Old_Geezer]

I expect putting up traps to cause deliberate harm is covered by existing legislation.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Flying below 1000' in a crowded area ...the pilot has a lot more to lose than you. If he has an engine out situation he will have about a minute to land safely