Microlight pilot makes emergency landing

A quick-witted microlight pilot yesterday afternoon made a precautionary emergency landing on a stretch of unsurfaced road in Marsascala after having doubts about whether the engine was running properly.

Microlights are very small, single-engined aircraft which weigh under 300 kilos. They could be single or twin seaters.

Major Alex Dalli, a co-founder of the Microlight Aviation Club, was flying his aircraft over the area at about 5.15 p.m. with Lawrence Scerri, a former RAF engineer who services the aircraft. When they suspected the engine was not performing well they decided to make an emergency landing.

The plane's wings were then dismantled - a 10-minute job - and the plane taken to Luqa, from where microlights operate.

The Department of Civil Aviation has launched an inquiry.

Speaking over his mobile phone soon after landing, Major Dalli said one did not take unnecessary risks while flying and he felt it was safer to land than try to make it to Luqa.

The advantage of microlights is that they can land practically anywhere and need very short distances to land safely.

The club has some 60 members and was co-founded by Major Mark Said and Major Dalli, both Armed Forces of Malta pilots. The club has several aircraft and a few people in Malta own a microlight. The planes cost under Lm10,000.

Microlight pilots have to pass their general flying test before they can fly solo. The aircraft are flown for pleasure but are often used for aerial photography.

The microlight aircraft which made an emergency landing at Marsascala yesterday afternoon. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.