A European VLA has a MTOW of 750 kg.
A US LSA has a MTOW of 600 kg (for landplanes).
The UK microlight MTOW is 450 kg (except for aircraft with ballistic recovery systems).
Regulation of UK microlights is looked after by the BMAA and CAA. It will not be affected by the nonsense of EASA.
Certain EC countries wanted to raise the Annex II limit so that VLAs wouldn't be over regulated by EASA. The BMAA emphatically do not want this, as the fear is that, if the 'microlight' MTOW was raised to the VLA limit, then this would mean that EASA would inflict its heavy-handed €urocracy on all UK microlights - and the current 'light touch' regulation would be lost.
VLAs which weigh more than 450 kg can only be flown on a UK-issued licence on a SSEA or SEP Class Rating and the aircraft themselves have to meet LAA standards.
Last edited by BEagle; 20th May 2009 at 08:21.