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Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Fri May 10, 2019 10:39 am
by deltacharlie
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Sun May 12, 2019 11:12 pm
by Private Jet
Excuse my ignorance, but what are the implications of this? Does this mean that the BMAA will approve new types now and effectively own BCAR section S?
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 5:23 am
by Genghis the Engineer
Well done to Ben, Rob and Geoff.
It doesn't mean that they own Section S, it means that they own the decisions of whether a whole aeroplane complies with it or not. Previously they (and still LAA) only owned that for modifications - and have had to go to CAA for final approval of new aeroplanes.
It should make things faster and more flexible for builders, designers and importers, allow CAA to concentrate on stuff that matters more to them, and make the aircraft approval process more accountable to the BMAA membership.
A win all round in my opinion.
G
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 8:41 am
by patowalker
This is a huge step in the right direction and very timely indeed. The 600kg opt-out, will undoubtedly result in BMAA approval being sought for new types coming to the UK.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 9:20 am
by Pete L
The only thing that bothers me about the 600kg is that a lot of bigger airports ban ULMs. Apart from that, I think it would be great if the LSA fleet moves over to BMAA.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 9:48 am
by ArthurG
That's a 'gotcha' I hadn't spotted. If those of us flying 600kg aircraft find they are redesignated as microlights, it might exclude us from some airports.
I'm guessing the landing fees won't reduce though.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 10:13 am
by patowalker
As soon as it becomes apparent that pilots will not be able to fly 600kg aircraft on a microlight licence, the 'microlight' label will be dropped.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 6:26 pm
by tomshep
Where does it say that, ducky?
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Mon May 13, 2019 8:31 pm
by patowalker
Nowhere does it say that. I am just guessing, since someone has calculated the increase in kinetic energy at stall speed between 450kg/35kt and 660kg/45kt to be 119%. This will almost certainly have licencing and insurance implications. The BMAA is keen to protect FAI definition microlights from further regulation, so it seems likely to me that there will be a two tier system.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Tue May 14, 2019 9:33 am
by Nick
patowalker wrote:As soon as it becomes apparent that pilots will not be able to fly 600kg aircraft on a microlight licence, the 'microlight' label will be dropped.
Does it really matter what they are called?
I suppose it may matter to a few elitist snobs
Nick
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Tue May 14, 2019 11:46 am
by patowalker
Yes, it does matter, if you fly abroad, where most EU countries allow free access to foreign registered ULM/microlights flown by pilots holding a microlight licence. Try that with an NPPL SSEA, flying an LSA.
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 1:51 am
by Genghis the Engineer
A relevant aside - I was heavily involved in the move from the old 390kg microlight definition to the current 450kg definition. When that happened, a lot of aeroplanes that had been "group A" (SEP now) became compulsorily microlights. This meant that a lot of pilots could apparently no longer maintain their SEP ratings on them.
I took a proposal to the CAA, who accepted it, which was that anybody who owned an aeroplane which became a microlight, could continue to use those hours to maintain their SEP ratings, but once it changed owner any new owner could not.
I'm sure that the BMAA still have the correspondence somewhere, and it may be very useful for a lot of people to quote that precedent.
G
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Wed May 15, 2019 8:23 am
by G-BLEW
Genghis the Engineer wrote:A relevant aside - I was heavily involved in the move from the old 390kg microlight definition to the current 450kg definition. When that happened, a lot of aeroplanes that had been "group A" (SEP now) became compulsorily microlights. This meant that a lot of pilots could apparently no longer maintain their SEP ratings on them.
I took a proposal to the CAA, who accepted it, which was that anybody who owned an aeroplane which became a microlight, could continue to use those hours to maintain their SEP ratings, but once it changed owner any new owner could not.
I'm sure that the BMAA still have the correspondence somewhere, and it may be very useful for a lot of people to quote that precedent.
G
I don't believe that anyone will be forced to reclassify their aeroplanes as a result of any changes.
Ian
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 5:26 pm
by Genghis the Engineer
I honestly don't know if you're right or not Ian, but it was certainly the case in 1999. The most obvious example was that all the "Group A" Minimaxes became microlights.
G
Re: Approval for BMAA to issue Initial Permits for microlight aircraft
PostPosted:Thu May 16, 2019 5:37 pm
by lobstaboy
And they then became SSDR....