5 ms·

>No Runway or Pilot's License Required. Curious how this is exempt from FAA regulations. It looks neat and all, but it goes without saying... what could possi

>No Runway or Pilot's License Required. Curious how this is exempt from FAA regulations. It looks neat and all, but it goes without saying... what could possibly go wrong?!

antipotoad 3y ago
Flights are within a geofence, overseen by flight crew who can take over remotely at any time. Still surprising no license is required.
- newaccount74 3y ago
  Sounds more like an amusement park ride than flying an aircraft.
  - bentcorner 3y ago
    It does seem like that. > Check in at the LIFT location coming soon to your city. Before your first flight, you'll sign a waiver and watch our orientation and safety videos. > ... > When in Beginner mode, you will go through an on-screen tutorial - learning maneuvers just like in the simulator. After the tutorial, you will be free to fly around the designated, geofenced flight area for the remainder of your 8-15 minute flight. Build flight experience and unlock Sport and Group flying modes. edit: Looks like this is just their 1st step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKs0k7LCM8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKs0k7LCM8
ortusdux 3y ago
It is exempt from license requirements, not FAA regulations. Ultralights and paragliders are the same way. Most anyone can buy and fly a powered or unpowered ultralight without a license as long as they comply with the FAA's strict regulations: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aviation-interests/ultralights/getting-started-in-ultralight-flying/about-faa-part-103-for-ultralights https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aviation-interests/ultralights/getti...
tzs 3y ago
It's a powered ultralight aircraft, which is covered under part 103 of the FAA regulations. There are no licensing, knowledge, age, experience, or medical requirements for pilots of ultralights. For the aircraft itself there are no certification standards, other than it has to meet the definition of a powered ultralight. That is: -only one seat -is only used for recreational or sport flying -does not have an airworthiness certificate -weighs less that 254 pounds empty (not counting safety equipment and floats) -has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 gallons -does not exceed 63 mph in level flight at full power -power off stall speed does not exceed 28 mph Ultralights can only be flown between sunrise and sunset, unless they have an anti-collision light visible for 3 miles and are in uncontrolled airspace in which they can fly 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. They cannot be flown over any congested area or over an open air assembly of people.
- mysterydip 3y ago
  I don't see how that fits under 254 pounds, unless they stretch the meaning of safety equipment. Most ultralights I've seen are the thinnest scaffolding for a wing or parachute holding a tiny engine and a seat. Maybe the materials are some new composite? I'm also curious how the FAA will determine max fuel capacity for an electric aircraft. Does battery weight count in the "empty" calculation? Is there an amp-hour-to-gallon average? Could I make a frame out of batteries to get "free weight" towards my design?
  - sokoloff 3y ago
    How would the batteries be “free weight”? They’re neither safety equipment nor floats. You are free to weigh an electric airplane with the battery discharged, just as you can an ultralight without fuel in it.
    - ajmurmann 3y ago
      If the batteries are removable, is"without fuel" without batteries or without charge?
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

>No Runway or Pilot's License Required. Curious how this is exempt from FAA regulations. It looks neat and all, but it goes without saying... what could possibly go wrong?!

antipotoad 3y ago

Flights are within a geofence, overseen by flight crew who can take over remotely at any time. Still surprising no license is required.

newaccount74 3y ago
Sounds more like an amusement park ride than flying an aircraft.
- bentcorner 3y ago
  It does seem like that. > Check in at the LIFT location coming soon to your city. Before your first flight, you'll sign a waiver and watch our orientation and safety videos. > ... > When in Beginner mode, you will go through an on-screen tutorial - learning maneuvers just like in the simulator. After the tutorial, you will be free to fly around the designated, geofenced flight area for the remainder of your 8-15 minute flight. Build flight experience and unlock Sport and Group flying modes. edit: Looks like this is just their 1st step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKs0k7LCM8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKs0k7LCM8

ortusdux 3y ago

It is exempt from license requirements, not FAA regulations. Ultralights and paragliders are the same way. Most anyone can buy and fly a powered or unpowered ultralight without a license as long as they comply with the FAA's strict regulations: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aviation-interests/ultralights/getting-started-in-ultralight-flying/about-faa-part-103-for-ultralights https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aviation-interests/ultralights/getti...

tzs 3y ago

It's a powered ultralight aircraft, which is covered under part 103 of the FAA regulations. There are no licensing, knowledge, age, experience, or medical requirements for pilots of ultralights. For the aircraft itself there are no certification standards, other than it has to meet the definition of a powered ultralight. That is: -only one seat -is only used for recreational or sport flying -does not have an airworthiness certificate -weighs less that 254 pounds empty (not counting safety equipment and floats) -has a maximum fuel capacity of 5 gallons -does not exceed 63 mph in level flight at full power -power off stall speed does not exceed 28 mph Ultralights can only be flown between sunrise and sunset, unless they have an anti-collision light visible for 3 miles and are in uncontrolled airspace in which they can fly 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. They cannot be flown over any congested area or over an open air assembly of people.

mysterydip 3y ago
I don't see how that fits under 254 pounds, unless they stretch the meaning of safety equipment. Most ultralights I've seen are the thinnest scaffolding for a wing or parachute holding a tiny engine and a seat. Maybe the materials are some new composite? I'm also curious how the FAA will determine max fuel capacity for an electric aircraft. Does battery weight count in the "empty" calculation? Is there an amp-hour-to-gallon average? Could I make a frame out of batteries to get "free weight" towards my design?
- sokoloff 3y ago
  How would the batteries be “free weight”? They’re neither safety equipment nor floats. You are free to weigh an electric airplane with the battery discharged, just as you can an ultralight without fuel in it.
  - ajmurmann 3y ago
    If the batteries are removable, is"without fuel" without batteries or without charge?

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]