Is an Aerobatic Flight Safe?
Aerobatics, like any flying activity, is not free of risk. What can be said is how that risk is reduced: through aircraft certification, a maintenance programme, altitude margins, emergency equipment and a current, qualified pilot.
Start with what the aircraft is certified for
The Extra 300L is certified in the aerobatic category. That is a regulatory statement about structural limits and cleared manoeuvres. Permitted load factors depend on mass, configuration and the Aircraft Flight Manual, and the airframe is built with a very large margin over what is flown on a participant sequence. SP-EKS holds a current Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the Polish Civil Aviation Authority and is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's maintenance programme.
The margins you do not see
- Altitude. Participant figures are flown with a floor well above the height at which any single figure needs to be completed. If a manoeuvre does not develop as expected, there is room to stop.
- Sequence adaptation. The programme is matched to the participant and to the day. If you feel unwell, tell the pilot, who will adjust the programme when it is safe to do so.
- Emergency parachutes for both crew members, with their use covered in the briefing.
- Harness. A five-point harness that keeps you in the seat under negative G, checked before every flight.
The pilot is part of the safety case
Currency matters more than total hours. A pilot who flies aerobatics a few times a year is in a different place from one who flies them weekly and competes at national level. Maciej Kulaszewski holds an FI(A) instructor rating, is FAI Intermediate World Champion 2022, Polish National Champion 2026 in the Advanced class, and has over 3,000 hours on Extra aircraft alone.
Changes during the visit
Tell the pilot immediately if you feel unwell or want to stop. The pilot will adjust the programme and return to level flight when it is safe to do so. The briefing explains communication during the flight; it does not provide medical clearance.
Weather can also change the plan. Aerobatics is flown under visual flight rules in daylight, so low cloud, poor visibility or strong gusty wind moves the slot. We move it rather than fly a compromised sequence. Your voucher is valid for 12 months, so rescheduling costs you nothing.
The regulatory frame
Introductory flights of this kind are conducted under Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, Article 6(4a)(c), and Guidelines No 9/2025 of the President of the Polish Civil Aviation Authority, within non-commercial operations rules, under day VFR, with third-party liability insurance per Regulation (EC) No 785/2004. Those references are on the aircraft paperwork, and you are welcome to ask to see it.
Who should not fly
Discuss chronic conditions, recent injuries or surgery, fainting and medicines with your doctor before booking, not only at the briefing. We do not conduct flights during pregnancy. A modified sequence is not medical clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Is an aerobatic flight dangerous?
Aerobatics, like any flying activity, is not free of risk. The risk is reduced by flying an aircraft certified in the aerobatic category and maintained to the maintenance programme of the manufacturer, by generous altitude margins, by emergency parachutes and a five-point harness, and by a current instructor-rated pilot who competes at national level.
What happens if I feel unwell during the flight?
Tell the pilot immediately. The pilot will adjust the programme and return to level flight when it is safe to do so. The briefing explains how to communicate discomfort or ask to stop.
Are there parachutes on board?
Yes, emergency parachutes for both crew members, and their use is covered in the pre-flight briefing.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The flight is rescheduled. Aerobatics is flown under visual flight rules in daylight, so low cloud, poor visibility or strong gusty wind moves the slot. Vouchers are valid 12 months, so rescheduling costs nothing.
Who should not fly aerobatics?
We do not conduct flights during pregnancy. Other health concerns require individual advice before booking; the website and pilot cannot provide medical clearance.
Fly it yourself
Aerobatic flights in the Extra 300L SP-EKS from Radom-Piastów (EPRP), 100 km from Warsaw. From 2,222 PLN, no licence or experience required. Gift vouchers are issued as a PDF after payment confirmation and stay valid for 12 months.