Ecolight
Ecolight aircraft (from the English eco , ' environmentally compatible ' and light , 'light') are motorized series aircraft which, thanks to the use of particularly light building materials, get by with a minimal drive requirement and environmentally friendly small engines of the latest technology. They fly safely, quietly and economically. These are ultralight aircraft that have been approved in the Swiss Ecolight category .
History of origin
When the motorized hang gliders were first used in Switzerland in the 1980s, they were surprisingly banned on July 4, 1984. At the time, they were undesirable for environmental reasons. From then on, the law prohibited motorized aircraft with a wing loading of less than 20 kilograms per square meter of wing area. While a new class of aircraft was emerging in Europe, the ultralight aircraft , such aircraft were banned in Switzerland.
On July 15, 2005 the Ecolight class was introduced. Ecolight aircraft have a wing loading of at least 20 kg / m² and are therefore not subject to the ban on ultralight flights. Only three-axis controlled Ecolight aircraft are permitted, rotary wing aircraft and trikes are still excluded. “As driving forces, Anton Landolt and Eugen Hostettler and the Swiss Microlight Federation have been fighting against the ban on ultralight flights in 1984.” In 1997, the term ecolight came about when Anton Landolt noticed that it was replacing the prejudiced term ultralight had to in order to guide these now very quiet and economical aircraft out of their negative light. “The Ecolight aircraft only achieved their final breakthrough in 2000, when a comprehensive Ecolight presentation was held in front of politicians and the media at Bern Belpmoos Airport. The parliamentarians present were convinced by the new, economical, quiet and therefore environmentally friendly aircraft. On September 26, 2002 Federal Councilor Moritz Leuenberger gave the green light for the approval of Ecolights in Switzerland. "
Legal requirements
The following demands are made on the Ecolight aircraft:
- Maximum two-seater and maximum 120 HP drive
- The take-off weight must not be heavier than 322.5 kilograms for a single-seat Ecolight aircraft and not heavier than 472.5 kilograms for a two-seat Ecolight aircraft.
- The surface load must be at least 20 kg / m².
- The stall speed must not exceed 65 km / h.
- The noise emissions must not exceed 65 dB (A).
- Ecolight aircraft are controlled on three axes, without rotary wing aircraft and trikes.
- In Switzerland, ecolight aircraft are considered aircraft with the same rights as certified aircraft.
Features and differences
All properties of the Ecolight aircraft are largely determined by its small mass.
power
Ecolight aircraft have a significantly better power-to-weight ratio than normal aircraft. The climbing performance is therefore much higher. Nevertheless, the cruising speed is on average somewhat lower than with conventional aircraft. The maneuvering speed of an Ecolight aircraft is currently between 130 and 180 km / h. The Piper PA-28 -181 Archer 3 is significantly faster at 230 km / h. The range of an Ecolight is heavily dependent on the maximum payload. You can cover 1,000 kilometers without any problems, but apart from the pilot and passenger, you only have a limited payload available. In terms of range, Ecolights are comparable to normal aircraft, although the range can vary greatly depending on the aircraft model. The handling of an Ecolight aircraft differs from model to model just as it does with conventional aircraft. In general, the handling is comparable. Although ecolights are usually a bit more agile and responsive, again due to weight, they are good-natured.
safety
Ecolight aircraft can be equipped with a total parachute rescue system. In an emergency, this rescue system can bring the entire aircraft with the occupants back onto solid ground, thus providing the aircraft with additional safety. Such rescue systems are mandatory in Switzerland.
Since Ecolights are certified production aircraft, they must not be confused with experimental aircraft. You have to go through a strict and demanding certification, which is only valid throughout Switzerland. Ecolight aircraft are only certified nationally and not Europe-wide according to JAR / EASA . With an engine of usually 100 HP, Ecolights have large power reserves, which is a significant safety advantage, especially on short slopes or in the mountains. Due to their lightweight construction, Ecolights are also more susceptible to wind and are therefore more affected by gusts of wind and any unrest in the air. On the other hand, Ecolights usually have much better gliding properties than conventional heavier aircraft, which gives them more time to land in the event of an engine failure. Their low weight also means that the runway can be approached more slowly, which results in a very short landing distance. Only a small amount of kinetic energy is destroyed on landing. Ecolights are just as safe aircraft as conventional private aircraft.
Spaciousness and payload
The major disadvantage of every Ecolight aircraft is the statutory maximum take-off weight of 472.5 kilograms. The maximum take-off mass severely limits the payload.
| Maximum take-off mass | 472.5 kg |
| Empty weight of the aircraft | - 292.5 kg |
| Mass for fuel (approx. 42 liters) | - 30 kg |
| Payload for pilot, passenger and luggage | 150 kg |
If the empty mass of the aircraft and the mass for the fuel are subtracted from the maximum take-off mass, the result is the maximum payload mass for the pilot and the passenger. This maximum payload for Ecolights is around 150 kilograms. A pilot can still weigh 75 kilograms here. Of course, an aircraft does not have to take off with a full fuel tank, but if it wants to fly for a few hours, you have to reckon with 60 kilograms for fuel. For many pilots, the Ecolight aircraft is a poor option because of the insufficient maximum payload. Longer, two-seater trips with the Ecolight in the legal weight range are then difficult. Because there is often not only space for two pieces of luggage, but also the necessary weight reserve.
ecology
Compared to conventional single-engine aircraft, Ecolight aircraft are more environmentally friendly because they use much less fuel, emit significantly fewer pollutants and are significantly quieter. The common Ecolights use an 80 or 100 HP Rotax internal combustion engine. Although this engine does not yet have a catalytic converter, it can be described as a light, modern and powerful aircraft engine. The fuel consumption of an Ecolight is around 14-18 liters per hour, which in turn is due to its low weight. The Piper Archer 2 has a value of 33 liters per flight hour. The noise emissions are also audibly lower. Residential areas that are significantly polluted by the noise of conventional aircraft are hardly affected by Ecolight aircraft. The noise emissions of the Ecolight aircraft seem to have reached a value that is drowned out in everyday and accepted sources of noise. Rotax engines are also used in other conventional single-engine aircraft and are therefore also more environmentally friendly and quieter.
costs
Ecolight aircraft are an inexpensive variant of private aviation. The purchase price of a new Ecolight is around half that of a comparable two-seater aircraft. However, this is deceptive, especially since an intact, older Cessna used only costs around 40,000 Swiss francs. So Ecolights are not the cheapest planes. The insurance costs for Ecos in Switzerland are currently somewhat higher than for comparable small aircraft. The fuel costs for two reasons a lot less: First, consume Ecolights only about half the other hand Ecolightmotoren normally using conventional gasoline and not with expensive Avgas operated (aviation gas). Avgas is now trading at a price of over 2.50 Swiss francs, which is well above the normal gasoline price. After all, the maintenance costs of Ecolight aircraft are around 20% lower than those of other small aircraft because they are subject to somewhat less strict maintenance regulations and the modern small engines are more maintenance-friendly.
Use and potential
Since the Ecolight aircraft was allowed to take off in Switzerland on July 15, 2005, it has been widely used in two areas. On the one hand as a tow plane in glider flying and on the other hand as a training aircraft for flight schools. Ecolights are capable of towing gliders. For sailors, the Ecolight aircraft is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and high-performance replacement for the tow planes from the 1970s. More and more flight schools are relying on the Ecolight, as it is comparable to a conventional aircraft when flying, but costs significantly less. This significantly reduces the price of a tow-minute. However, many Swiss pilots complain about the insufficient maximum take-off mass and call for a new Ecolight class that would be comparable to that in the United States. The Sports Plane category known there allows a maximum take-off weight of 600 kilograms. Experts assert that today's Ecolight aircraft could load 120 kilograms more without major modifications. In Swiss pilot circles, the Ecolight is valued and accepted as a fully fledged aircraft. Nevertheless, there are limits to it and so the Ecolight will only prevail in the medium term in Sunday flying. The Ecolight aircraft is not very suitable as a travel, traffic or even transport aircraft. The future of ecolights will presumably lie in the later ELA (European Light Aircraft Category), which will offer better legal framework conditions.
The Ecolight category
Ultralight and Ecolight aircraft are not JAR / EASA certified, but are regulated nationally. They are therefore not automatically approved in every country. It is up to every nation how they handle this type of aircraft. The minimum number of twelve flight hours required to maintain the international JAR license may not be flown in an Ecolight aircraft. Ecolight pilots with a JAR license still have to fly with a conventional aircraft. Ecolights must undergo certification based on the German airworthiness requirements for aerodynamically controlled ultralight aircraft (LTF-UL) and the Swiss Additional requirements to be considered for Swiss validation and certification of Ecolight Aircraft . The Ecolight category allows pilots with a limited private pilot license ( Restricted Private Pilot License ) RPPL-ECO, RPPL-September or JAR PPL-SEP license after appropriate sample introduction in Swiss airspace with Ecolight aircraft to fly. A number of foreign microlight aircraft are also allowed to fly to Switzerland, whereby the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) has published a list of these aircraft models. With the agreement of other European countries, pilots with an exclusively Swiss license may also fly in foreign airspace.
acceptance
The opinions of pilots regarding Ecolights still differ widely in Europe. For example, the ultra or ecolight aircraft is not yet recognized as an aircraft by the JAR / EASA. Unlike in the rest of Europe, Swiss pilots have only been able to fly and gain experience with the Ecolight since July 15, 2005. The market in Switzerland has so far developed rather hesitantly, as the attitude of conventional pilots to Ecolight is still too conservative in some places. While the strong engine performance and the high climbing ability inspire some, others cannot make friends with the fact that the handling when landing is more demanding due to the low weight. The incumbent President of the Swiss Microlight Federation, Anton Landolt, says: "Everyone should fly what they enjoy most." Younger and more liberal pilots in particular appreciate the Ecolight as a safe, inexpensive and environmentally friendly aircraft and like to emphasize: " The ecolight aircraft has a lot of future. It just takes time before the Ecolight can prove itself. Then the skepticism of certain pilots will turn into open enthusiasm. "