Question
: Hello there! I have always thought of building my own human-powered airplane (something like the Gossamer Albatross) with a bicycle-like system to power it and lightweight materials which will make it an efficient aircraft. I don’t have a pilot's license yet, so I wonder if it is possible to fly this sort of "aircraft" without officially being a pilot and without having to communicate with air traffic control. Will this airplane have to pass some sort of examination by the FAA? Like an ultralight, will I be able to fly this without certification and out of a field of my choice? I know this sounds crazy, but I really appreciate having answers to all these questions. Thank you so much! Abel, a big aviation fan!
Answer : Hello Abel, Thanks for sending in your interesting question. The aircraft you describe would more than likely qualify as an ultralight (as long as the empty weight was less than 254 lbs). This being the case, you would not be required to hold any pilot certificate in order to fly the aircraft. In addition, the aircraft would not require any inspection or certification in order to operate under ultralight regulations. Good Luck! Joe
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