Modern ultralights are lightweight, one or two seat aeroplanes, manufactured within the last twelve years, designed for recreational use. Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA), the governing body for the industry, offers the following definition of an ultralight:

“A generic term for any aircraft that has a maximum take-off weight of 544 kg (614kg for a seaplane) or less…” (RAA Operations Manual 2001, Abbreviations and Definitions – 4). The term ultralight should not be confused with the term light aircraft, which is commonly used to describe general aviation (GA) aeroplanes that have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) up to 2,722Kg (Encyclopedia of Aviation 1977, p.117).

 An aircraft’s maximum take-off weight is the total weight it can legally be loaded, prior to takeoff. As some loading factors are variable, it becomes the pilot’s responsibility to load the aeroplane within the limits of its MTOW. When calculating the maximum take-off weight of an ultralight, manufacturers are required to take into consideration: total weight and structural strength of the aircraft including the engine; full oil and fuel; total pilot and passenger weight; instruments, headsets and luggage.

 The modern ultralight is made from the latest ‘space-age’ materials. With choices of aluminium alloy, carbon fibre and fibreglass, manufacturers have the flexibility to design and build modern ultralights with fully enclosed cockpits, hard skinned wings and aerodynamic fuselages that are not only light, but also strong. All modern dual seat ultralights intended for training use are manufactured to stringent aviation standards. In fact, training aircraft must be factory built by an approved manufacturer.

 Also available to the industry are new, reliable, lightweight, aviation certified engines. Most of these engines are purpose built for ultralights and deliver more power than ever before. The net results are ultralights that not only look identical to traditional GA aircraft, but also are beginning to match their airspeeds.

 Modern ultralights are less costly to run and maintain. With relatively new airframes constructed of the latest materials, maintenance costs are inherently low. Any maintenance is usually expedient and inexpensive by aviation standards. In addition, modern ultralight engines are at the forefront of fuel-efficient design. This combination makes them more affordable in today’s competitive aviation marketplace.

 Affordability also extends to obtaining an Ultralight Pilot Certificate. Flying schools operating cost-effective modern ultralights, provide affordable flight training to any potential student pilot. Furthermore, students need only provide a current Australian Drivers Licence as proof of medical fitness for an Ultralight Pilot Certificate. Such flight training is bolstered by the quality of the current ultralight training syllabus.

 The standard and method of pilot instruction has been improved in conjunction with the development of the modern ultralight. The current ultralight training syllabus has been directly adapted from the general aviation syllabus, which is the tried and true method accepted worldwide and considered to be the benchmark for flight instruction.

 The RAA is developing and protecting the ultralight industry’s reputation through manageable regulation of building materials, engines, maintenance and training. As a direct result, the ultralight industry now shares a safety record on par with General Aviation. Despite this, ultralights are still discriminated against by the media and are often misrepresented in the press. If it is not obvious that an aircraft involved in a crash is a ‘Boeing’, then it is often deceptively reported as being an ultralight. The media’s blatant naivety in its reporting is largely responsible for the stigma that still exists towards the ultralight industry. However, the modern ultralight’s reputation as a safe and affordable aeroplane is rapidly building credibility, despite misleading media coverage.

The modern ultralight’s growing reputation and credibility is largely due to the introduction of modern building materials and reliable engines. Moreover, with higher standards of regulations and training, modern ultralights and their pilots are receiving more accreditation and acceptance from within the aviation industry and the community at large. People of all ages are attaining their Ultralight Pilot Certificate and enjoying the safe, inexpensive hobby of ultralighting. This is confirmed by the rapid growth in the number of RAA memberships and coincides with the advancements to the ‘modern’ ultralight.