Ultralight aircraft enthusiasts could soon have more space to fly in as the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) is scheduled to certify the nation’s first aviation route for ultralight vehicles next month.
Sport Aviation Association president Dai Qing-ji (戴慶吉) said yesterday the proposed air route covers the area between Dapeng Bay (大鵬灣) and Saijia (賽嘉), both in Pingtung County, for a distance of about 41km. For an aircraft operating at 100kph, the one-way flight would take about 25 minutes, he said.
To certify the route, Dai said the CAA would have to ensure that security and safety concerns are fully addressed, as the route would cross restricted fly zones and densely populated areas.
The CAA announced the Ultralight Vehicle Regulations in 2004, which defined “ultralight” crafts as “fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes, powered parachutes/powered para-gliders and weight-shift-control aircraft.”
Ultralight enthusiasts have complained that there is little airspace left for them because the air zones are mainly used by the Air Force, the Aerial Police Brigade and civilian aircraft.
The CAA’s rigorous restrictions for operators of ultralight aircraft — including specific zones where the activity was permissible — prompted some pilots to fly illegally, causing safety hazards.
Statistics from the Aviation Safety Council showed that eight accidents involving ultralight vehicles have occurred since 2005. All crafts involved in the accidents were destroyed, resulting in serious injuries and death.
So far, ultralight vehicle operators can only take off and land in Dapeng Bay, the first area where ultralights were allowed to operate. The proposed route, if certified, would allow pilots to travel from Dapeng to Saijia.
Dai’s association members number about 200, of whom only about one-tenth are licensed, he said, adding that the development of the ultralight vehicle sector had “a long way to go.”
Nonetheless, the government’s decision has encouraged interest abroad about flying in Taiwan, Dai said.
Asked about a proposal to use some underused airports as takeoff and landing sites for ultralight carriers, Dai said he would welcome such a plan.
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