no licence for single seater trike

[in the sticks]

The new Nano trike advertised certainly is very appealing for us guys living in the bush.
My question is what is such a difference in the nano trike and say a normal Aquilla trike besides one being a single seater and the other a 2 seater.The Aquilla I have to have a full medical, have the trike airworthy every year weights and balances done.Radio licence the works for something that flies at 48mph.
The nano trike I need nothing.just fly.
All these restrictions are killing the sport, not surprising if you look that people are almost giving their trikes away because there is no market.I blame all the restrictions on lack of interest in trikes
I think I am going to go the Nano route but am sure the restrictions will catch up with it as well

[leprechaun]

The USA has similar legislation , you dont need a licence to fly a microlight. You do need one as soon as it is over a certain mass , and or if you take a passenger. Their law works otherway round , they treat you as a grown-up with discipline , but beware should you default , they throw the book at you , you may get charged for causing severe bodily harm should you crash !
Leprechaun

[Dobbs]

Hi in the sticks, I am surprised to hear that you do not need a licence to fly a single seater trike - have you confirmed this with RAASA?

There are many single seater microlights in SA, and as far as I am aware ( I am no expert with aviation law) they all require a licence. With that in mind, without a radio, would you then be excluded from all controlled areas, and be limited to 500' agl?

[justin.schoeman]

This is not a single seater trike - it is a 'powered hang glider', and is under the auspices of SAHPA, not RAASA.

There are significant differences in the technical requirements for an aircraft to be considered a powered hang glider, instead of a trike.

[Bundy]

I honestly don't know the tech spec or licencing requirements for powered hang glider to comment too much.

Everything changes however when you go to an aircraft capable of carrying a passenger. I would not send my family up with any pilot who has not had some form of training or a licence.

Opinions differ on this depending on where you are. I find that the most complaints come from outside of Gauteng. You see for me it is much easier to comply with the many requirements simply because everything is close by. I have at least 6 AP's within a 20 miles radius, Raasa is 25 min away, CAA even closer....but that would not be the same if I lived in another province!

Yes, there are many restrictions that could be changed for the better!....the Radio Licence requirement is the first one I'd love to see booted into history but I cant see that happening and MANY have tried believe me.
It is the rising cost of flying that is really "killing" the sport, not the regs in my opinion. You're paying R260K these days for a new entry level trike! The engine options are few and expensive. Fuel has skyrocketed in the last 5 years...along with everything else in life!
I do have great sympathy for those "further afield" pilots who really must struggle to conform to otherwise pretty simple requirements like ATF's,and Renewals simply because of their location.
I think the various authorities could greatly simplify these processeses to accommodate those affected, but that takes political will! A very scarce commodity in Aviation Circles..... I see no reason, for example, why an AP who is authorised by RAASA to conduct an airworthiness inspection cannot be given authority to "then and there issue" you a temporary ATF and avoid the postal trail of documents back and fourth? The documents can then be scanned and e mailed to RAASA who will then be able to send you the "official ATF" in the post...at least you can fly in the meantime!..Think of how that would simplify things for a pilot who lives in "Pitsonderwaterfontein" ? Same story for the Licence Renewal....small (and achievable!) changes would make all the difference but it's up to the Authorities to listen and engage more with ARO's, and more importantly follow up with action....don't hold your breath.