The Government updates the regulations to regulate the use of motorized Ultralight Aircraft

• It is a boost to the sector, developing and aligning airworthiness requirements with the technological evolution experienced by the sector in recent years.

Madrid, 25 February 2025 (AESA)

The Council of Ministers, at its meeting today and on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, has approved a Royal Decree updating the airworthiness regulations and establishing the essential requirements for ultralight motorized aircraft (ULM), while approving a new regulation for the construction of aircraft by amateurs.

First, the ULM certification regulations change the requirements to accept equipment that until now was not contemplated because they are more modern, such as new navigation systems and equipment. On the other hand, concepts that align it with the European Regulations are included, simplifying processes.

In addition, it includes the approval processes of modifications, adapting them to the reality of the sector and facilitating that certain aircraft benefit from the modifications included in Royal Decree 765/2022, which regulates the use of ultralight motorized aircraft (ULM).

In line with the usual practice of countries around us, a special simplified airworthiness regime is established for single-seater aircraft with a mass of less than 120 kilograms.

As a novelty, the Airworthiness Review Certificates that accredit the continued airworthiness of aircraft are incorporated. Its validity is limited in time and can be renewed declaratively if the aircraft has been maintained in accordance with the requirements of the regulations.

With this new regulation, of an eminently technical nature, the requirements established for ULM aircraft are updated through the Order of 14 November 1988 and the Order of 31 May 1982 approving a new regulation for the construction of aircraft by amateurs amending the technical requirements in the field of type design is amended.

In short, the new Royal Decree aims to help boost the provision of services and, in general, economic activity in the ULM sector, developing and complementing national regulations and favoring the competitiveness of Spanish operators and manufacturers within the market, both European and international.