Frequently asked questions

AESA has published an informative guide that you can consult here.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 8.4 of Royal Decree 123/2015, the holder of the ultralight pilot's licence must keep and keep up-to-date a flight time record, in accordance with the model published by the EASA on its website.

A different Pilot's Flight Log shall be completed for each of the ultra-light aircraft variants (different books for MAF, AG, DCG, H and HD). At the start of a Pilot's Flight Log, on the first page, the name and surname of its holder, as well as the licence number and aircraft variant to which that flight log belongs, shall be noted.

For more information on flight registration, click here.

The following shall be required:

• be able to exercise the privileges of a PPL, CPL or ATPL licence, as applicable, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011;
• Be entitled (in force) to be an instructor in accordance with Subpart J of Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011 in an equivalent category and class of aircraft and be able to exercise the privileges of that certificate without the limitation of conducting flight instruction under the supervision of another instructor;
• Have performed at least 20 take-offs and 20 landings as pilot-in-command of an ultralight in the relevant aircraft category and rating;
• Have performed 1 flight of at least 1 with an ultralight instructor qualified for the same category and aircraft rating within the scope of an ultralight flight school and on an aircraft suitable for school use. The instructor shall sign and identify himself/herself in the pilot's ULM flight time record once he/she has verified that the pilot is qualified for ultralight instruction;

In addition, to maintain the previous ability to practice as an instructor in flight ULM must be (recent experience): 

• Have taught in the last 12 months, at least 3 hours of flight instruction on ULM aircraft or have performed the flight established in the previous point.

No, according to RD 123/2015, the ULM instructor qualification (FI) cannot be validated in any case.

The exercise of the privileges as a ULM examiner will require the provision of a specific certificate for each type of ultralight in which the corresponding flight tests, proficiency checks and/or proficiency assessments will be carried out.

In the case at hand, a private pilot licence (PPL), commercial pilot licence (CPL) or airline transport pilot licence (ATPL) issued in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011 must be available in order to obtain a particular certificate, provided that the person concerned:

• You may exercise the privileges of the PPL, CPL or ATPL licence, as applicable, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011.
• Is entitled to be an examiner in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No º 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011 in an equivalent category and class of aircraft and to be able to exercise those privileges.
• You can practice as a ULM instructor in the type of ultralight in question.
• Exceed the initial ULM examiner standardization course established by AESA for the type of ultralight in question.
• Pass a proficiency assessment, as a ULM examiner, for the type of ultralight in question, before a ULM examiner (designated or experienced).

Once obtained through this process, the ULM examiner certificate will be valid for 3 years and may be revalidated in its validity period (or renewed later) in compliance with the provisions of RD 123/2015.

Admission will require the holder to possess a private pilot licence (PPL), commercial pilot licence (CPL) or airline transport pilot licence (ATPL), issued in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011, provided that the applicant:

• Be able to exercise the privileges of their PPL, CPL or ATPL licence, as applicable, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011.
• Is qualified to act as an examiner, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011, in a category and class of aircraft equivalent to the type of microlight in question, and is able to exercise those privileges.
• Is able to act as a microlight instructor for the type in question.

To apply to take the course, you must submit the specific application form to AESA; this form will be published on the website in due course.

To be eligible for the test, the following requirements must be met for the type of microlight in question:

• Have successfully completed an initial AESA examiner standardisation course for microlights.
• For holders of a private pilot licence (PPL), commercial pilot licence (CPL) or airline transport pilot licence (ATPL) issued in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011:
  • To be able to exercise the privileges of their PPL, CPL or ATPL licence, as applicable, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011.
  • To be qualified as an examiner, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011, for an equivalent aircraft category and class, and to be able to carry out those duties.
  • To be qualified to work as an ultralight aircraft instructor.

To apply for the relevant competence assessment, applicants must submit to AESA the specific application form, which will be published on the website in due course.

The applicant must pass a competency assessment as a ULM examiner within two months prior to the date on which the application for the certificate is submitted to AESA.

They are only recognised for the renewal of the SEP (and TMG) class rating in order to meet the following requirement:

• Complete 12 hours of flight time in the relevant class during the 12 months preceding the expiry date of the rating, including the following:
  • 6 hours as PIC,
  • 12 take-offs and 12 landings,
  • a refresher course comprising at least 1 hour of total flight time with a flight instructor (FI) or a class rating instructor (CRI) and to the satisfaction of the latter, who shall select the flight exercises that enable the applicant to refresh their competence to operate the aircraft and apply normal, abnormal and emergency procedures safely. Applicants shall be exempt from undertaking this refresher course if they have passed any of the following tests, in any class or type of aeroplane:
    • a proficiency check for class or type rating;
    • a skills test;
    • a practical assessment of EBT;
    • a skills assessment.

Please note that flight hours logged on MAF microlights in Spain are not recognised for the purpose of obtaining (only for the revalidation referred to in the previous point) any FCL licence or rating. Consequently, they cannot be counted as time-building for the purpose of obtaining a CPL or ATPL licence.

Flights will only be permitted if AESA has correctly registered the declaration of responsibility OPS-UAH-ITR01-F01 in accordance with the provisions set out here.

It should be noted that the applicant must state in the application, amongst other things, that “they hold a licence issued by the State of registration of the aircraft or, in the case of licences issued by a State other than the State of registration, that such a licence has been expressly accepted by the State of registration”.

For further information, please contact sobrevuelos.aesa@seguridadaerea.es

In view of the above, if a microlight registered in another EU Member State is flown legally in Spain, that time may be recorded in the flight logbook in which hours for the same microlight aircraft type are recorded. In this regard, such hours may be taken into account to maintain recent experience for the relevant rating (MAF, AG, DCG, H or HD) on a national ULM licence (in accordance with the provisions introduced by the new Royal Decree 182/2026).