Ultralight Aviation

Ultralight aviation, called microlight aviation in some countries, is the flying of lightweight, one or two seat fixed wing aircraft built and regulated as a separate category from ordinary light aircraft. The pursuit grew out of the hang gliding movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when enthusiasts sought affordable powered flight, prompting aviation authorities to define a class of slow, lightweight aeroplanes subject to lighter regulation. The rules defining an ultralight, including maximum weight and stalling speed, differ from country to country, but the resulting aircraft typically have a slow landing speed and a short landing roll if the engine fails. In many affluent countries ultralights make up a significant share of the civilian aircraft fleet, accounting for over a fifth of Canada's registered civilian aircraft as of February 2018.