Newcomers too can go airborne in ultralight aircraft in Ses Salines

Francisco Nicolau Juan loves flying. But it is not Airbus or Boeing jets that excite the passions of this Mallorcan. Rather, he is an enthusiast for small machines, the ultralights (UL) or microlights that must not weigh more than 450 kg on take-off. And that includes fuel and crew. Incidentally, in this light weight is included not only the aircraft that resemble large houseflies droning with their motor through the neighbourhood, but real aircraft seating two people and even biplanes.

Since 1988, Juan has been an active member of the Ultralight Flying Club at the S´Olivó airfield at Ses Salines in the south of Mallorca. There are about twenty official club members including a Brit and five Germans. Monthly fee: 100 Euros. And for that sum the members’ aircraft can also be sheltered in the sheds belonging to the club. 

Guests are welcome. “We offer taster flights with experienced pilots to those interested,” says Juan, who tirelessly transmits to others his passion for his hobby. The price per hour: 100 Euros. But in other ways too a stopover with Juan is not be missed. Flying takes place from sunrise to sunset. And whoever catches the fever for flying is able to acquire a UL license on Mallorca. Equivalent training courses are offered in Binissalem and Vilafranca. 

Licenses must be renewed every one or two years depending on the age of the pilots. The national aviation authority plays a supervisory role. Anyway there are certain rules to be observed: thus, over land one must not fly lower than 150 m and no higher than 300 m. 

Comet, Tucano, Rans, Quicksilver are the names of the aircraft with which the ultralight captains take off at Ses Salines. It is not actually as simple as it looks. One must have perfect command of the start, control and landing techniques, unless one wishes to end up like Quax, the Crash Pilot. “And, above all, one must have respect for this aircraft,” stresses Juan, the retired policeman with more than 18 years experience. “One must handle an aircraft like a woman: gently! If you treat an aircraft well it is good to you. If one is aggressive to it then it responds brusquely. It’s as simple as that.”

Gentleness is one aspect, perceptiveness and a sense of responsibility the other. Thus Juan never flies over larger communities or forested areas. In short: he avoids localities on which it would not be possible, at any time, to come back to earth without problem. Mind you, the landing strip in Ses Salines is also something for experts. Even though the strip was asphalted recently: it is just 325 m long and at the far end bounded by a Mallorcan dry wall …

For men such as Dieter Mand, however, who five years ago flew down from Germany to Mallorca with his biplane fitted with four-stroke engine – a Comet FK 12, this is no problem. He uses the aircraft for small round trips and now and then has a passenger on board, with one sitting behind the other. 75,000 Euros is what a Comet costs new. It offers in return, open to the elements as it is, a real sense of freedom. No window frames, no metal braces block one’s sight, and the wind wafts around one’s nostrils. It is that unmistakable ‘convertible’ sensation but airborne!