Aeroplane Airworthiness

All microlight aeroplanes come under CAA airworthiness regulations. It is essential that you know the basics of this legislation if you intend to purchase your own machine.

Before any documentation can be processed, the aeroplane must be registered with the CAA and have the allocated letters displayed on its surfaces.

There are two main categories of aeroplane apart from the "home-built" category

Type Approved Aeroplanes

All microlight aeroplanes which first flew after the 1st January 1984 (the same date in 1987 in some cases) must have gained CAA Type Approval for their design and the manufacturers producing same must have CAA Company Approval.

Type Approved aeroplanes must be in possession of a valid 'Permit to Fly' in order to be flown legally.

Permits to Fly are validated annually subject to satisfactory inspection by a BMAA Inspector and a satisfactory check flight by a BMAA Check Pilot.

Type Accepted Aeroplanes

All microlight aeroplanes which first flew: Prior to the 1st January 1984 if they were over 70 kg or prior to the 1st January 1987 if they were under 70 kg and must have gained Type Acceptance.

Type Accepted aeroplanes are those which were flying before airworthiness legislation was introduced but have provided evidence of satisfactory standard through investigation and previous track record.

Type Accepted aeroplanes must be in possession of a valid Permit to Fly in order to be flown legally.

These are validated every 12 months subject to a satisfactory inspection by a BMAA Approved Inspector plus a 12 monthly check flight by a BMAA Approved Check Pilot.

Obtaining Documents

The BMAA is approved by the CAA for the validation of Permits to Fly together with the recommendation for issue, and the validation of, Exemptions.

As the Association self finances this work it is natural that it does so for members only. It should be noted that, including the cost of membership, the saving is very substantial in channelling applications through the BMAA.

Before you buy an aeroplane, do make sure that it has a valid Permit to Fly - or that one can be issued on application to the BMAA.