LAA ČR was entrusted by the Ministry of Transport of the ČR with the administration of ultralight gliders and ultralight motor gliders, which it took over in 2011 from Aeroklub ČR.
The difference between the ultralight glider category and the heavier gliders (gliders) of the "classic" category is that UL gliders are designed and built for less weight, have less surface load and have a lower VSO stall speed prescribed. As a result, they have a lower kinetic energy during landing, a shorter run-out and are thus safer during landing in the field. Especially for these reasons, the management of UL gliders could be entrusted to the Light Aircraft Association of the Czech Republic and thus does not fall under the Office of Civil Aviation and the European Agency EASA, which are in charge of the management of "classic" gliders.
However, UL gliders have their limitations, acrobatics must not be flown with them, they have less penetration and do not reach the performance of modern "classic" gliders. Unlike those, however, it is possible to build UL gliders by amateurs, carry out maintenance and repairs, and all of this under the supervision of technical inspectors of the Czech Republic's Aviation Authority.
Flying a UL glider is almost no different from flying a "classic" glider. The main difference is that, due to the lower weight of the UL, the glider reacts more to turbulence and to rising and falling currents, and therefore the pilot has to control it more carefully. Today, UL gliders are increasing on SFD areas as well as at regular airports, and pilots can also rent them at a number of places for a fee. The training is carried out according to ULK 3 regulations. The training takes less time than training on a UL aircraft and is therefore more affordable. The training is carried out by instructors in pilot training centers, mostly individually these days.
If it concerns the current category of ultralight motor gliders, it is part of the UL category of airplanes. Our UL-2 regulation, valid for UL aircraft, also addresses their issue.