| Are you afraid to achieve your dream to fly? Most of | | | | And most accidents are results of human mistakes. I |
| us are prevented of flying on their own for various | | | | know you don't want to be one of them. There are |
| reasons - lack of time, bad weather conditions etc or | | | | many things that YOU can do if you want to fly safer: |
| most often the reason is money. The financial problem | | | | Get better training. It makes sense to spend more |
| is now solved to some extent by the ultralight | | | | money on instructed flights than risking your life. Don't |
| airplanes, but a new concern might be stopping you | | | | hurry to make your first solo flight and even on it, have |
| from flying - their safety. | | | | your instructor presented in the airplane. |
| How safe are the ultralight airplanes? The short | | | | Ensure your aircraft is safe. This is a common sense, |
| answer is safe enough. The long answer requires you | | | | but still needs to be emphasized on. Check the wings, |
| to consider some important factors. | | | | the propeller, the fuel, everything. Then double check. |
| Nowadays the safety of the ultralight, microlight and | | | | Don't fly in bad weather conditions. Makes sense, |
| homebuilt/experimental aircrafts really equals that of | | | | doesn't it? Better to miss a planned fly rather than |
| the certified light airplanes. Then why asking about | | | | killing yourself or breaking your aircraft in the storm. |
| safety at all?Mostly people are afraid to fly ultralight | | | | Get an emergency parashute system. It costs about |
| aircrafts because in the past they used to have very | | | | $2,000 and I know sometimes that could be 50% of |
| poor reputation (which actually came mostly from | | | | the price of your ultralight airplane. But these $2,000 |
| rumor). The ultralight aviation was not regulated at all | | | | are not even 1% of the cost of your life, so just spend |
| which was allowing many unexperienced pilots to fly | | | | them without postponing. |
| on aircrafts with questionable safety. | | | | Use a helmet. You can get a motorcycle one, it won't |
| Today most countries regulate the ultralight aircrafts to | | | | cost you a lot. The helmet saves you not only in case |
| some extent and the pilots have either get a license or | | | | of accident, but also from hitting a bird or a bee in |
| agree with some restrictions like avoiding populated | | | | case you fly open-air vehicle. |
| urban areas, night or bad weather conditions. This | | | | Use common sense. Leave the great cascades to the |
| really improved the safety of ultralight flying a lot. | | | | professionals, don't fly close to buildings or rocks... just |
| Today only the Experimental Aircraft Association | | | | don't do anything that does not make sense. |
| keeps some statistics on the ultralight accidents. It | | | | The pilot is by far the most important factor in most |
| reports 101 accidents with 20 fatalities over a 3. | | | | ultralight aircraft accidents. Follow the steps above, fly |
| 5-year period - considering there are thousands of | | | | reasonable and you'll have no problems at all. Then |
| ultralight flights with thousands of planes, the figures | | | | you'll be able stop reading articles like this one and |
| are not so scary at all. | | | | enjoy your ultralight flights. |