Ultralight Vehicle
Safety certification for ultralight vehicles verifies the conformity of ultralight vehicles with “The Technical Standards for the Flight Safety of Ultralight Vehicles (Notification of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport).” This certification evaluates the documents provided by the manufacturer, maintenance records, current aircraft status, and flight performances.
Certification Procedure
- STEP 01Check on Registration Status
- STEP 02Conformity Assessment
(Documents) - STEP 03Review of Maintenance Records
- STEP 04On-Site Assessment of Overall Aircraft Status
- STEP 05Evaluation of Flight Performances by Test Flight
Certification Type
Initial Inspection
Initial inspection is conducted to acquire the first safety certificate for the operation of an ultralight vehicle that has been designed and produced domestically or imported from overseas.
Periodic Inspection
Periodic (annual or biannual) inspection is conducted to renew the existing safety certificate upon its expiration.
Non-periodic Inspection
Non-periodic inspection is conducted to assess the compliance of an ultralight vehicle with the technical standards after it has undergone major repairs or alterations, which might affect its flight safety.
Re-inspection
Re-inspection is conducted to check the items that turned out to be inappropriate at the previous inspections and have been repaired accordingly.
Subject of Safety Certification
The subjects of safety certification are the following ultralight vehicles under Article 5 and Article 305 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Aviation Safety Act.
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01Powered Vehicles
- Not exceeding 115 kg in weight (excluding fuel)
- Single-seater
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02Hang-gliders, Paragliders, and Parachutes
- Those used for aviation leisure sports business only
- Hang-gliders and paragliders, whose empty weight is 70 kg or below
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03Balloons
- Balloons for humans’ ride only
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04UAS (when corresponding to one of the two conditions on the right)
- Unmanned aircraft, unmanned helicopters, or unmanned multicopters, whose maximum take-off weight exceeds 25 kg (not exceeding 150 kg in weight, excluding fuel)
- Unmanned airships, whose empty weight excluding fuel exceeds 12 kg, or whose length exceeds 7 m (not exceeding 180 kg in weight excluding fuel, and not exceeding 20 m in length)
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05Rotary-wing Vehicles
- Not exceeding 115 kg in weight (excluding fuel)
- Single-seater
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06Powered Paragliders
- Not exceeding 150 kg in weight excluding fuel, if equipped with landing gear
- Single-seater