Rules and Laws for Paramotoring in the US

[@rule1dontgosplat]

As a former cop that went into teaching, this is good stuff. My former coworkers can gain information from this too, as there are a couple of us flying around.

[@JTWardle]

Well done! 👍 Nice summary of our FAR 103!

[@fbrummitt]

Great video. As far as “common public misconceptions”, I would add the following: when I’m flying low, especially at an uncrowded beach, many people on the ground will make an upward motion with their finger as if to tell me I need to be at a certain minimum altitude. Others have told me the FAA requires me to be at at a minimum of 500’ unless I’m taking off or landing 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@bobtheowl2]

I'm pretty sure that comes from misunderstanding of FAR 91.119 (c), which does apply to aircraft, but it specifically says in (d)(2) - "A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section." Notice "powered parachute", not ultralight/powered paramotor too - which we be solely under 103 if I understand it right. But either way the 500' rule doesn't apply. Have fun explaining all that with hand gestures though :)

[@parajerry]

@@bobtheowl2 - Prepare an information card you can drop with a piece of candy attached. That way you can explain the rules and give them a treat. ;-)

[@rmbru2k]

Awesome! Thank for the reminder Sensei Dave! It is always a good thing to be able to revisit all aspects of training in the variety of formats. You folks at Aviator are certainly among the best when it comes to paramotor subject matter.

[@flyingparamotors-scottcrat5569]

Thanks, a refresher of the rules is always a good thing!

[@ericrypkema2476]

Great job Dave!

[@AJReisinger]

Nice video, DT!

[@evanrandall1675]

So freaking amazing this has to be the coolest thing available to anyone. I'm going to start looking into this and hopefully safely enter the sport in the next 2 or 3 years

[@aviator]

We'll be here to serve when you are ready!

[@johanvantonder4642]

Question: you mention paramotor pilot can't fly over property/houses or people how ever you also say you can fly over people having a BBQ in their backyard. would this not still be property ? Can you please clarify ? Would that perhaps mean any residential area is a no-no, even if you fly over at 1000 ft ?

[@IrisPPG]

Very good video guys! Thanks Dave!

[@codyesterline162]

Awesome job!

[@tjmooney4181]

Thanks 👍

[@gyroman2k1]

One other thing to mention is city ordinances. Some cities have ordinances restricting aircraft within city limits. So even if theres an open field in city limits it be illegal to do certain things depending on what is in the city ordinance.

[@Catpanl]

He mentioned it. City may ban motorized vehicles from taking off but they can’t ban flying over the area. Not can they stop someone from landing in an emergency. And let’s be clear those who create these laws are the 1 percent who have connections with the city council or are themselves on the board. They don’t represent majority of the local population. But all it takes is one in power to make a law.

[@Joenathewashe]

I weight 345 pounds is there a pilot weight limit? or do they make equipment for heavier people? thank you

[@aviator]

We've trained a 385lb student! There is definitely equipment available.

[@chamales3]

Great info. Covered everything.

[@sr71afan]

Thanks Dave. Good job!

[@ralfkruse7565]

This was interresting! You can be lucky to be in the US. In Europe there are much more restrictions. And of course you need a license and insurance.❗️👍😊🇫🇷

[@UpcomingJedi]

What kind of insurance? Is it seperate from the general insurance? How do you get it if youre a tourist wanting to fly there?

[@ralfkruse7565]

@UpcomingJedi in France you need a licence, Ultra light pilot licence class 1, for Paramotor and Paratrike, if you have equipment for passenger transport, you need "emport passager" marked in the license. In Germany it is about the same with German names. The insurance is aircraft related ( for this aircraft with its registration number). I don't think anyone takes his Paramotor in plane luggage to his Europe vacation. It is easier to go to a flying school, show his US license, make a flight with instructor nearby, and he will decide if he rents you a Paramotor for some flights.🪂😊🇫🇷

[@cattnipp]

thank you!

[@Flywayhi]

At or above 10,000 feet MSL: A transponder with altitude reporting capability is required. Does this apply to Paramotors?

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

My understanding is: Transponders are only required for N-numbered aircraft (Ultralights are not required for registering as N-numbered aircraft). Transponders are required of A, B and C airspace. Paramotors can not fly in those airspaces.

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

Paramotors can not fly in those airspaces unless with express permission from ATC.

[@dronesnstuff5896]

Not required. We just have to stay out of A,B,C, airspace and only D or surface E with permission. It's definitely a good idea to either carry an av radio and/or ADS-B reporting app like Gaggle for better awareness. I personally stay away from Victor lanes too.

[@8X8__Thomas__8X8]

great summary,. thx, greetings from germany, Thomas (42)

[@pc-dc4gm]

I live near a regional airport - what are the rules when flying around them?

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

Go and take a class or discuss with an instructor. There are restrictions in Class E airspace. Class G is basically where you can fly. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-103

[@jamesringler987]

Check airspace regulations and talk too the airport manager about what they want

[@50xChallenge]

Nice Job. One thing that would have been nice to mention, is there are other FARs that need to be complied with such as Airspace and somethings in Part 91. Also pilots must be aware of local laws. If pilots will be operating out of airports There are other regulations to comply with. There are also some local regulations for parks that specifically state you can’t fly below 500 feet. The FAA has not struck those down so it can be an expensive ticket or too expense to fight.

[@matthewholmes8638]

Local government cant make a ordinance or law over airspace. I mean they can but legally we dont have to follow it. The only thing is if there is a ordinance and we takeoff from an area. However they cant prohibit overflight or make altitude restrictions. Only the Faa and federal government. The whole Gulf coast of florida the local government has a ordinance you cant fly within so many feet of the shore.

[@dronepanora]

@@matthewholmes8638 - the reality is when you are fined, you have to go to court and fight there. Typically it would require an appeal to a higher court if the lower court wont dismiss especially if you aren't represented. It is an expensive scenario that the local government counts on and as such pass the ordiances anyway to be persuasive. 1 case was dismissed because the guy went to court, but the state didn't show up. The others just paid the fine because it was cheaper. It sucks, but that is the way it is in reality and precisely the situation recently near Salton Sea. If one has money its worth the fight to protect others, but in most cases the government passing the regulation has the upperhand.

[@Flyswamper]

As per FAR 91.1 (e) limitations listed in 91 do not apply to what is governed by FAR 103. As I mentioned in separate comment here... It is useful to be able to point to 91.1(e) when the circumstances arise. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-91/subpart-A/section-91.1

[@555slam]

@@dronepanoraI think this the most underappreciated point. You may be legal to do what you are, but are you willing to spend thousands of dollars in court to prove it?

[@EfficientRVer]

Local regulations telling a pilot what they can do in airspace, are themselves illegal. They simply do not have jurisdiction over airspace. The argument that it costs thousands of dollars to defend yourself in court against an illegal regulation, is feeble. It doesn't have to. You show up in court, cite the law and precedents, and the judge smacks down the town counsel or prosecutor who is hassling you. In fact, it would be very unusual for a town to even show up in court, once you make it clear to them that their ordinance is illegal. If they do choose to schedule a court date, make sure you countersue them in your answer to their complaint. Whether you countersue for damages, or just to have the court order them to strike down their law/rule or stop enforcing it, is up to you. But even if you do sue for damages, make sure to also ask for those other remedies to protect both your own right to fly there, and everyone else's. Get a letter from the FAA stating that what you did is legal, and that only the FAA has jurisdiction, given what you are claiming to be the facts. Then the town can only try to disprove your facts, such as proving you touched the ground when you did not.

[@VolodymyrFornalskyi-j6v]

“Don’t take passengers Don’t get paid to fly” does this apply for paratrikes too? Some paratrikes are designed with two seats. Can't we take a passenger on it either? Are there paratrikes that can be used for commercial purposes?

[@matthewholmes8638]

Usppa and 1 other organization (cant remember their name) have tandem exemptions from the faa. You can take up passengers and charge for a introductory instruction flight. You have to have your certifications for it before the exemption applies.

[@VolodymyrFornalskyi-j6v]

It’s like you are going to teach the passenger?

[@parajerry]

@@VolodymyrFornalskyi-j6v My wife and I did a tandem before I took training. While you might just be going for a fun experience, they will allow you to steer and they will teach you some basics so they meet the 'training flight' definition. They can charge you for a training flight so all is above board. The 'paid' restriction basically means you cannot use the paramotor commercially or for business purposes....except parameter training.

[@VolodymyrFornalskyi-j6v]

Thanks a lot for your answers!)

[@dvgese]

So, if you’re flying at 1000ft are you required to avoid flying over buildings?

[@aviator]

Over congested areas, yes. That is not a clearly defined term, though there is case law around the definition.

[@IrisPPG]

Yes. There are no height restrictions of any kind except restricted air space and in relation to clouds.

[@UpcomingJedi]

You also have to consider turbulence around that building.

[@CR4ZYxRY4N]

What about powered hang glider

[@ThePantheistPope]

So you can never fly over a house or urban area even if you’re thousands of feet high in the air?

[@555slam]

Pretty much, yes.

[@rule1dontgosplat]

The FAR says two things: You may not fly over congested areas or assemblies of persons. For the most part yeah, you wouldn't fly over a city because that's congested. There are a few exceptions. My town has a public use park on the edge of town with a huge swath of land cut out and flat. You could absolutely take off from there. Even though it's in the city limits, as long as you fly in from the south or take off to the north and turn around immediately, you're over trees. The other part is, no one may operate an ultralight in a way that presents a hazard to persons or property. So you're flying along in the countryside at 1000 feet and you pass over a house. You haven't created a hazard. But then you start doing SATs and wingovers above that same house and get down to maybe 150 feet above the roof. If you take a collapse, you're going to crash into the house. Therefore, you are creating a hazard. Those are MY interpretations and I'm not a lawyer. I think it would be almost impossible in all but the most remote area to avoid flying over every single house out there.

[@UpcomingJedi]

Looking at youtube videos, you HAVE to fly over homes now and then just like any other air traffic especially when you take off from a park but they leave te area promptly. Then theres the Karens who think they can ban pilots from flying over their fields with horses.

[@555slam]

@@UpcomingJedi the FAA leaves this vague on purpose I believe. If they want to punish you for flying somewhere they don’t want you to, they can use you flying over a house as flying over a “congested” area. Very likely they never would, but they could. Also, there is no prohibition for licensed aircraft flying over congested areas like there is for us. Again, I don’t like it or think you’d get violated for it, but that window is open to the FAA.

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

I suspect this is all about liability from the FAA’s perspective. An aircraft has a significant forward velocity and is probably only that low for landing or takeoff. A paramotor is a potentially a meat bomb that can drop directly down. Hence the FAA reg.

[@Catpanl]

Nice video. One thing maybe to add is the perspective of PPG pilot, we are too busy worrying about flying to spy on people or notice that bbq under some cover if it’s not super obvious. And the engine noise makes it impossible to hear anything, even gun shots from the angry land owners . . Also winds get faster with altitude and flying low is sometimes necessary to return home or conserve fuel, finally in many places there just isn’t open space after all the development so flying over undeveloped land is the safest bet in case of engine out. Park and large fields are used because of that. Aviation is one of the reasons America is a world power and PPG offers a low cost entry for people passionate about aviation. They maybe go on to work commercially in the field or inspire the next generation so its worth supporting and keeping Karens at bay.

[@Im.k.m.aka.kalaashnikov]

Hi Dave

[@mmcowan]

Hi Dave!

[@daveltaylor]

Hi Matt :)

[@12vibaba]

So.. How can I apply for a green card?

[@parajerry]

Call the US Embassy in your country....or come visit on a tourist visa and join us in the air....no license means anyone can fly paramotors in the US. Schools or places to rent the parameter probably require proof of training and may have a minimum number of flights. They probably require a deposit in case of equipment damage as well. I know people have also shipped their own equipment via UPS or packed it into suitcases partially disassembled.

[@ricosaurus]

Surprised no mention of the risk of stampeding livestock or harassing wildlife.

[@TheFreeLandersGuide]

If we're landing somewhere that doesn't allow motor vehicles but the engine is off we're in compliance, correct?

[@boulderup9c]

No. It's no "motorized" vehicles. Doesn't matter if it's running. Written that way to eliminate that loophole.

[@TZCHRIS27]

Dave, love the video, great information, however I almost broke my TV while trying to kill the moth at the 11:51 mark! LOL

[@kimdimond6921]

It’s to bad that so many are the jerks you described and regularly disturb our family backyard events. Not cool. If the pilots actually followed your advice then it would be a mutual relationship. Quite simply put, they don’t have the conscientiousness that you appear to have.

[@Dishcanfly]

“Stay Methodical”

[@ebrent59]

You keep saying "eye of the beholder". Please be more specific. Whose eye? The pilot or everyone else?

[@UpcomingJedi]

6:04 seems like a plausible definition

[@Leyenda1]

What about the guys making money on youtube?

[@tpboeh]

Right - this is nonsense and an invasion of privacy when flying at 100 ft over someone’s property. 100 ft is not “up in the sky”. Who has the advantage here when no identifying marks are required and there are almost no restrictions?How do rules violators get reported? Had three paramotors come out of no where today over our rural property at that height, over our parking area/travel trailer/vehicle and an outbuilding. Pretty annoying on an otherwise quiet Sunday.

[@dronesnstuff5896]

Reality is, it's kinda a "too bad" situation and 1ft is "up in the sky". With that said, paramotor pilots are usually pretty good people and if you were able to get ahold of them and let them know, they'd go out of their way to avoid your property below 500 or 1000ft.

[@EfficientRVer]

At least paramotor pilots are less likely to actually get shot at by land owners, than drones. Even Karens don't want to rot in prison for murder, just because you flew 20 feet above their corn field.

[@mrsonor1090]

Hi. Maybe you should add "in the USA" in the title. I know it's hard for you guys to believe but there is a world outside of the US. And also, the sport was invented in Europe. If you put something on YT, most of the world will be able to see it so to say a lot of rules isn't right if you don't specify for what country you are talking about. NOT the same rules and regulations in Sweden. We have a higher level of security because we don't want our pilots to die, oh sorry, I ment, because we want to have less freedom.

[@aviator]

Will add it, thank you! Nice reminder!

[@mrsonor1090]

@r Thank you, sir. I wish you a really nice weekend. Many hugs from Sweden :)

[@aviator]

@@mrsonor1090 I hope to fly with you in Sweden someday!

[@mrsonor1090]

@@aviator I hope I can go to you as well one day. Never been to the US. It's on the list :) Looks like you have a really nice spot there in Florida. A lot of sun and a few handbags with teeth at the water canals. Take care.

[@UpcomingJedi]

​@@mrsonor1090is there a similar video that explains Swedish air laws and requirements needed to be met by someone coming there on vacation? Such things as permits, certain insurance coverage. I understand even owning a television requires a license.

[@ikefork2606]

You call 'em "pilots"? That's a joke, and offensive to FAA certificated Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilots.

[@codyking4342]

Its a pretty simple definition, maybe a dictionary will help

[@christx3326]

​@codyking4342 wow the terminology insecurity police....what would you call glider 'pilots'? Private pilot myself, considering paramotor for work commute. Would I refer to myself as a part time engine powered parachute steerer & lander? What is even funnier is the Navy designation of F-14 Tomcat "drivers" , just as an example. It's trivial, relax my man.

[@carlcolorado3549]

Just wondering. Why do paramotor pilots like flying at small airports? Seems a bit pointless for a paramotor to be in the way of real aircraft. Why wouldn't paramotor pilots just want to fly at a field away from air traffic? You would be free to fly anywhere and not in the way of instrument aircraft. I'd think that would be what everyone would want and it would be way safer. Just my opinion

[@aviator]

Having access to small airports is a crucial opportunity for us to get in the sky! Agreed wholeheartedly on the staying out of the way though.

[@carlcolorado3549]

@@aviator I'm just saying in general not you guys per se. Paragliding we tend to avoid airports at all costs. Just something I've always wondered.

[@parajerry]

@@carlcolorado3549 Believe it or not, access to large open fields is not something that is easy to find. Land owners don't like the liability and few own large acreage, especially flat and cleared of trees and water. Airports are perfect as the areas around the runways is usually pretty flat, mowed, and free of obstructions. Also, small uncontrolled airports in the USA that receive government funds (almost all of them) are REQUIRED to allow ultralights, including paramotors. Where paramotors are based the airport and pilots usually have agreements on where they will take off and land and what traffic patterns they will follow. Ultralights are required to give way to all other manned aircraft, so it is the responsibility of the parameter pilot to keep an eye out and avoid all air traffic, including in the airport's traffic pattern. Believe me, it is seldom ever a problem at all. With a radio, we can even go into controlled airspace and airports. Just like a helicopter will have a unique traffic pattern at airports, paramotors and other ultra-slow aircraft will be treated differently to keep them safe and out of the other aircraft traffic patterns.

[@rule1dontgosplat]

We ARE real aircraft. We can crash and splatter just like people in a Cessna. My local municipal airport actually likes ultralights coming and going as long as they follow the pattern and have a radio. Every takeoff and landing is a use of the airport that they can log and goes to help them defend their budget to the City. I've had flight instructors ask me lots of questions about them, and they do airport days and young eagles events and like us to come out.

[@UpcomingJedi]

ParaMotors are real aircraft whittled down to just the seat and engine. Not all parks are friendly to paramotors and may have powerlines nearby or trees in the way. There have been instances where Santa Claus learned this the hard way in Sacramento or Rio Linda in California. To say that paramotors should stay out of the way of 'real' aircraft us like saying bicyclists and pedestrians should not cross intersections to stay out of the way of 'real' cars. Cagers are no more important just because they are riding in a car