§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Minister for Trade what steps have been taken to establish airworthiness requirements for microlight aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatThe Civil Aviation Authority has published a code of airworthiness requirements for microlight aeroplanes specifying structural and performance standards necessary for the issue of a permit to fly. The code will be phased in over a period between 1 July 1983 and 1 July 1984.
309WFrom 1 July 1983 microlight aeroplanes with an empty weight of over 70 kg and of a type which has not flown before will need a valid permit to fly. From 1 January 1984 this requirement will be extended to aeroplanes which have not flown before, even though a machine of the same type has flown; and from 1 July 1984 it will apply to all microlight aeroplanes over 70 kg.
Microlight aeroplanes of 70 kg or less used for aerial work (except for flying instruction) already require a permit to fly. The regime described above also applies to these lighter aeroplanes used for any other purpose, apart from single seat aeroplanes used for private purposes, which will still be exempt.