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National Ultralight Training Program 

USUA pioneered the development of ultralight airmen and vehicle registration programs in response to FAA's mandate, and to protect the ultralight community from further regulation. Participation in the airmen registration program provides confirmation of an ultralight enthusiast's intent to meet FAA's expectation that the individual ultralight operator's support and compliance with national self-regulation programs is essential to the FAA's continued policy of allowing industry self regulation in these areas. 

THE NUMBER 1 CHOICE IN FLIGHT TRAINING 

USUA has an unmatched record of 9,000 ultralight pilots trained and tested in accordance with its Federal Aviation Administration recognized ultralight safety program based on standards contained in Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 and Advisory Circular 103-1. With hundreds of thousands of operational hours, going back even before FAA enacted ultralight regulations, USUA has the knowledge and expertise you have come to expect to help you identify the training materials you need. 

USUA maintains registrations and listings for Basic and Advanced Ultralight Instructors. These instructors are located across the country, and are waiting to help you explore the mechanics of ultralight flying. Whether you are just starting out in aviation or are a high time "conventional" pilot, getting some stick time accompanied by a professional ultralight flight instructor will be your entry point to ultralight aviation. 

USUA publishes and distributes three axis and weightshift training manuals that are chosen by the majority of ultralight instructors for ultralight flight training courses. If you are just getting started, ask your flight instructor to include one of these manuals in your training package. For those already flying, pick up a copy to have a handy reference guide confirming your knowledge of ultralight flying. 

USUA hosts safety clinics and seminars across the country every year. These gatherings of pilots, instructors and program administrators help maintain a high level of learning and add new levels of knowledge as important safety issues are presented and discussed. Many USUA publications are available through a local USUA instructor or you may place an order through the USUA Flying Store. 

The USUA Airmen and Vehicle Registration Program is the oldest and most widely known and accepted program in the United States. It has been imitated by subsequent programs and has been used as a model for similar ultralight training programs worldwide. Program costs are recovered through participation. 

No USUA member dues are taken from other programs to subsidize this program. 

 National Registry 

Voluntary participation in our sport’s safety programs pays back big dividends in the protection of our freedom to fly under FAA’s ultralight regulations. Over ten thousand pilots and instructors have gained valuable knowledge and proficiency specific to ultralight flying when getting their training from USUA registered instructors. Through the education process, they have completed a course of FAA recognized standardized training and passed written, oral and flight tests. Once enrolled in the National Registry a pilot receives a registration card confirming his or her intent to meet FAA's expectation that the individual ultralight operator's support and compliance with national self-regulation programs is essential to the FAA's continued policy of allowing industry self regulation in these areas. 

 Ultralight Pilot and Vehicle Registration

There is no better way to safely explore the exciting and wonderful sport of ultralighting than with the guidance of a USUA registered Sport Pilot flight instructor. He or she will provide you the necessary tools so that you can fly on your own. If you decide to pursue pilot training, your education will consist of a mix between classroom instruction, study materials and aids and in-air dual flight training. While each instructor has his or her own unique style of teaching each will train you to the same FAA standard found in the Ultralight Pilot Written and Practical Test Requirements Guide available in the USUA Flying Store. 

At the end of your training, after you have soloed, you will take a written, oral and flight test. Once you have successfully completed these your application will be submitted to USUA and, in return, you will receive your very own pilot registration card showing you are on the national registry as an ultralight pilot. 

Nationally registered pilots earn opportunities to obtain personal liability and hull insurance coverage, acquire personal ultralight financing, rent ultralights at flightparks, directly access DUATS weather service, gain access privileges at airports, earn respect within the aviation community, obtain personal life insurance coverage and enjoy the personal satisfaction in successfully completing FAA's mandated ultralight-specific training. 

Best of all, as an ultralight pilot you get to enjoy the uniquely satisfying experience of simply flying for fun. 

How Do I Know I Will Like It? 

Your first step to determining if this sport and leisure activity is for you is to sample what it is like. Find you nearest BFI and sign up for an introductory flight lesson. When you get to the field you will first fill out a Passport form that provides you information on what to expect and automatically makes you a USUA member for 30 days. 

The exciting part, of course, is going flying. First you will introduced to the two-seat trainer that you will fly in. After a short description of the aircraft and how it is controlled your BFI will get you seated, hop in and take you for a short flight around the local area. During the flight you will experience the sounds and sensations of flying an ultralight, and what is most spectacular for many—the view. 

After landing and taxiing back to where you started you are likely to remark on the flight with words such as “Wow,” “Incredible,” “I had no idea it was going to be like that,” and “When can I start lessons?” 

How Long Will It Take and How Much Will It Cost? 

A typical ultralight flight training course will include 10 - 15 hours of dual flight instruction and a similar amount of ground instruction. Completing the course may take a couple of months if you fly every weekend. The average charge for dual flight instruction is $60-$90/hr and $10-$25/hr for ground instruction. So you can expect to pay $1,000-$1,500 to earn your ticket to fun flying. 

What Training Materials Should I Use? 

Many considering taking up the sport first purchase a USUA Ultralight Flight Training Package. The pilot candidate package includes a pilot training manual of your choice (airplane or trike), pilot knowledge and proficiency checklists, pilot practical test requirements, pilot and vehicle logbook, airmen & vehicle program guide, federal ultralight resource guide, ultralights at airports pamphlet, fat ultralight/experimental guide, USUA member cloth patch, USUA member decal, ultralight buyers guide and pilot and vehicle registration application. 

This gives you all the information needed to proceed with flight lessons and prepare you to pass the pilot tests. You also receive valuable reference materials that you will use throughout your years of flying. 

Do I Need Special Training For Different Planes? 

There are major differences between categories and classes of ultralights for which specific training should be sought. USUA registered BFI teaching credentials are divided into Categories: Aerodynamic Control (airplanes) and Weightshift (trikes) and Classes: (Land and Sea) allowing you to choose which kind of training you prefer. 

Aerodynamic Control Land (ACL) 

The majority of Ultralight instructors fly traditionally controlled training planes like the Quicksilver Sprint and Sport II, Quad City Challenger, Flightstar and Rans S-12 from small ultralight airparks and general aviation airports. You can expect to learn the basics of flight (or the specific unique aspects of ultralight flight if you are transitioning from general aviation or other aircraft). 

Weight Shift Land (WSL)

There is no question that a control bar that effectively changes the position of the whole wing relative to where a pilot sits is a unique category of controlling ultralight flight. Weight shift category aircraft are your entryway into the realm of trikes which may be your first sojourn into the international market place as trikes are the most popular ultralights worldwide. 

Any weightshift class syllabus will likely include one or both of the weightshift training manuals available today: the Trike Flyers Manual and Trikes: The Flex Wing Flyers. Both books are available through your instructor. 

Popularity of trikes in the U.S. is on the rise. Now is your chance to see what it is all about when you visit one of these instructors. 

Seaplane Flight Instructors

How fun can it be you ask? Once you've tried this form of ultralighting you may never turn back. There is the special ability to fly for miles three feet above the surface, or to land for a refreshing swim, or just mingle with your favorite boats. Seaplane instructors will guide you toward a better understanding of float operations and how to make your experience enjoyable. 

USUA offers the book How To Fly Floats by J.J. Frey to whet your appetite. With over 100,000 copies sold, this is widely recognized as the most authoritative guide on the subject and is available for $9.95 in the USUA Flying Store. 

How Do I Register My Ultralight? 

Ultralighters wishing to comply with FAA's mandate to register vehicles may be assured that USUA Vehicle registration has always been available to all categories, classes and types of ultralight vehicles including powered parachutes, gyroplanes, powered paragliders, balloons and gliders as well as airplanes and trikes. Since the FAA recognized vehicle registry's beginning in 1982, USUA members have registered more than 5,800 vehicles. 

The national registry for ultralight vehicles operated by USUA is open to any member. Vehicle owners may obtain registration information by clicking on Vehicle Application in the Forms section.  

WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO
FIRST, find an Instructor from the Instructor List. He or she will say you've got to— 

1. be at least 18 years old and in good physical condition. 

2. have registered as an ultralight pilot (USUA pilot registration). 1, 2 

3. have at least 20 hours flying time in ultralights and 100 hours total aircraft flight time. 1, 2 

4. pass the FAA Fundamentals Of Instruction written test from an FAA authorized testing center. 2 

5. learn all about how to teach someone to fly and how to test them to a standard, the USUA training program, reporting requirements, ultralight regulations, the ultralight training exemption and all the maneuvers in the Ultralight Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards Guide (Minimum 15 hours). 2 

6. pass a written, oral and flight test. 

7. submit a completed BFI application and fee to USUA. 

WHAT YOU DON'T GET You don't get—

1. FAA or large non-ultralight organizations bearing down on you like "Big Brother." 

2. a "ticket" to put in your back pocket to say you are "legal" when all you want to do is fly a two-seater recreationally. This program is for people seriously intending to help train others—FAA allows nothing else. 

3. an organization who's real focus is outside of ultralight and microlight aviation with a hidden agenda. 

4. an organization in it just for the money. 

WHAT YOU GET You get to—

1. provide fixed wing powered (trike/weightshift & airplane/aerodynamic control) ultralight ground and flight training to registered student pilots and pilots. 

2. authorize student pilots for supervised solo training flight in a single or two place ultralight. 

3 administer the student presolo and pilot written, oral and flight tests. 

4. enjoy the confidence in knowing that the world's largest ultralight association is supporting you. 

* A pamphlet describing the details for earning your USUA Student, Pilot or Instructor registration is available through the USUA Flying Store for $2.00 to cover shipping and handling fee. Pamphlet mailed free to USUA members.