Microlight & GA

[sluf7]

Why is it people seem to have the Attitude that people flying Microlites aren't up to Pa with there PPL counter parts......!!!!!

Considering the amount of hours that most Microlites Pilots do per year compared to there GA counter parts. I suspect one it's more fun when the machine one fly's is cheaper to run than most GA aircraft are also newer and something different also more sophisticated in fit out and in some case's faster.

As most GA Pilots are lucky to break 10 to 12 hours a year (average) when most Microlite pilots are cracking in excess of 50 plus hours (average) this begs the question who's more current and safe....!!!!!!

Your comments please :0)

[ul450]

Guess that's a very good question.

I fly a Jabiru 450 - cruise @ 95knots, can fly from A to B - follow same rules and yes, most likely fly more than some hobby GA pilots out there.

I started flying late January this year, and now have about 65 hours combined duel and solo. Just adding an Alpi 200 to my collection, cruises at 118 knots - 18L per hour fuel burn - but still not a real plane.... go figure.

[Dave Homewood]

Are there actual examples of the attitude you talk of?

The traditional microlights that look like hang-gliders with motors certainly have a look about them as being risky and unsafe, as in nothing to protect you when you crash, and back when they were popular in the 1970's-1980's there were a lot of fatal and nasty accidents.

But these days microlights don't seem much different from any other light aircraft - they are usually sleek, well designed, fully enclosed, fast composite aircraft. I don't know one from another and see them all having as much merit and as much risk.

You're referring to the pilots themselves however. What are you actually getting at here??

[DragonflyDH90]

OK, I'll bite.

Most GA aircraft owners would do considerably more than 10-15 hours per year, closer to you microlight 50hrs.

Those with a licences that fly with clubs may do no more than 10-15 a year (I imagine that is probably similar for microlight clubs) but most clubs have policies that would not allow someone to fly without a dual check for competency if they were flying that infrequently and then would likely only authorize very limited flight activities. Of course there are those that don't do this just as there are within the microlight fraternity.
I can't imagine many microlight pilots chasing down an instructor for a dual check and although a biennial flight review is also required for a micro licence (as is for GA)it is not unusual for many, many years to pass before they do one.

There is good and bad within both, I fly both and instruct in both, I see the good and bad within both. To tell you the truth, if you took a cross section of owners (both micro and GA) the hours flown per year would be similar and skill level would also likely be similar.

[sluf7]

I am not getting at anyone just putting it out there for some discussion.

I mean when I had my Jodel I did 300 hours in 21/2 years as GA but that's out there hours wise. I know people that just do GA there 3 take of and landings every 90 days to keep legally current. GA I suspect the average hours I stick by 10 to 20 hours per year. Yes I agree OWNERS would do more than average hours mainly club pilots I am eluding to here.

An interesting comment I read in a Magazine with a chap getting his plane repaired by a Chap from the Cheqk republic who commented that he was busier than ever as head eluded to the fact that a lot of pilots buying these types of aircraft were older people and were having more accidents.......interesting but true.

Anyhoo flying is flying just enjoy it people no matter how much ya do.

[Dave Homewood]

Czech Republic?

[DragonflyDH90]

You are probably right that the average PPL does 10-20hrs per year, being that the average would be club pilots hiring a club aircraft. Private owners on the other hand would average somewhere between 40-100. Now when you consider that perhaps 70-80% of GA PPL holders are club pilots its a very monitored group.
Now if we look at microlights the reverse situation is true where 70-80% of pilots are owners and perhaps 20-30% are club pilots (this reflects that there are fewer microlight clubs that have aircraft).
I would guess that the hours per club pilot or private owner for both groups are very similar.

These are made up figures but reflect what I have seen totaling logbooks when doing BFR's for people.

Having said all that I could be completely wrong and at the end of the day its just my opinion.

[sluf7]

Well that was a good discussion and I feel we agree to disagree but at the end of the day we are all aviators and we should all respect every ones passage through to becoming an aviator regardless of what we fly and which avenue it was gained from. Just to become a pilot is an achievement not many attain in this world and to be looking down on the earth is a privilege few get to experience from the lower levels (Airliner heights don't let one enjoy the true majesty of the lower levels) I personally liked to share flight with as many people as I can and have had the joy of taking 120 plus people up and over Mt Egmont/Taranaki. When one see's the enjoyment and true wonder on someone's face when getting up close and personal to this ICON of Taranaki really makes it all worth while.

One of my best flights was being able to take a very unwell relative of mine up for a fly and even though we just flew round the local area he said he had never been in a small plane before and thoroughly enjoyed it and was a bit miffed he had never done it before and was glad to have the oppitunity to be able to do it. He passed away a few months later. His Partner told me at the funeral he never stopped talking about that flight. This is why I encourage everyone to make an effort to introduce aviation to everyone they can.

One thing we need to do in this country is to form a federation of recreational clubs & Associations so we can present to the Powers to be as one group as I fore see with the Regulator, Airways and Councils controlling Aerodromes getting more difficult in the coming years so a combined Federation my be the only answer to stop the slowly eroding rights we aviators enjoy at present

Anyhoo that's my ten cents worth....!!!!!

Thanks for spelling correction Dave

[DragonflyDH90]

Yes, agree to disagree.

I however agree with your further comments 100%