Ultralight Pilot Privileges Restricted Under NPA 2024-001

Summary of the Issue 

In NPA 2024-001, Transport Canada introduced charges, changed hang gliding definitions, and crucially identified an ultralight as an aircraft registered as such, instead of an aircraft that fits the current weight and speed definitions.

This would have been a world first, and would have restricted those with an Ultralight Pilot Permit to only fly (C-I___) registered aircraft instead of homebuilt (amateur-built) or LSA aircraft that fall into the ultralight weight and speed definition (registered C-G or C-F).

What is COPA doing?

COPA created a formal letter of response to Transport Canada’s proposed changes in NPA 2024-001, specifically addressing concerns around the redefinition of ultralight aircraft. The organisation, alongside the Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada (UPAC), also encouraged its members to submit their own letters, voicing how the change could impact pilot privileges, flight training, and access to certain aircraft.

The collective feedback emphasised the importance of maintaining a definition based on aircraft characteristics, such as weight and speed, rather than registration category alone. As a result of this widespread input and concern from the aviation community, the proposed ultralight definition was ultimately removed from the NPA.