LeSving wrote:
My bet is that every single EASA country will “opt out”.I don’t think so. The reason for having and opt-out and not simply raising the limit to 600 kg was that some countries refused that.
Definitely no more if, even hardly when. Germany and the Czech republic have already “opted out”. It will take effect January 1 for Czech Republic, and early 2019 for Germany. Here.
The new Basic Regulation, in force since 11 September 2018, allows Member States to
decide to regulate aircraft below 600 kg MTOM nationally. The Federal Republic of
Germany has acted fast. The Ministry of Transport sent a notification to the Commission
that Germany will choose the opt-out option and regulate aircraft up to 600 kg MTOM
under its national responsibility. The Commission has confirmed the receipt. It will take
a few months to amend the current national law but this should be completed early 2019.
Also Czech Republic sent a notification to the Commission that they will choose the opt out
for 600kg MTOM. They plan to put it into force on 1 January 2019. More countries have
already started to talk with the authorities about implementing the opt out.
Airborne_Again wrote:
The reason for having and opt-out and not simply raising the limit to 600 kg was that some countries refused that.
You can only fight the tide for so long, before it turns from a funny little peculiarity to ridiculous. This is more like prohibiting yellow bicycles.
I’m still a bit puzzled. Is it just a matter of raising the MTOM limit to 600 kg? I thought there were more parameters involved. IIRC (current numbers for Germany) :
-max empty weight 365 kg (currently just below 300)
-max Vso: 45 KCAS (currently 35)
-max TOD so 15 m obstacle: 400m (currently 300)
aart wrote:
I’m still a bit puzzled. Is it just a matter of raising the MTOM limit to 600 kg?
The opt-out also has a max Vso of 45 KCAS. No mention of empty weight or TOD.
I did some further checking:
Empty weight
Not a fixed figure as such but the result of a calculation: MTOM minus payload. The latter defined as 2 persons of 100 kg each plus one hour of fuel. So for a 600 kg MTOM aircraft: 600-(200+15) = 385 kg. Note that MTOM may be less, as determined by the manufacturer and so the empty weight decreases correspondingly.
Vso
Indeed 45 KIAS
TOD
LTF-UL 51:
The distance required to take-off under maximum weight condition from a dry, level, short-mown grass strip and climb over a 15 metre obstacle must be determined and must not exceed 450 metres.
Explanation for 3.
The Take-off distance stated in the Operating Manual should be the average distance from six demonstration flight
To me these parameters look like adequate for nice and safe craft, but maybe @mh would disagree 
The last EAS newsletter has new info on this.
CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS FOR THE OPT OUT 600 KG MTOM – Rieteke van Luijt
MTOM – Maximum Take-off Mass
“….. Member States may decide to regulate aeroplanes, helicopters and sailplanes up to
600 kg nationally by simple notification ….”
Germany, Czech Republic and France are the first to use the opt out.
According to current information Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Slovakia,
Spain, Lithuania and even the UK will opt out. Italy is expected to follow later.
The German Airworthiness standard LTF-UL 2019 (Nfl 2-446-19 15 jan. 2019) will be
used in most countries.
Germany has made good progress with the Opt-Out. The CAA (LBA) published the new
technical requirements for 3 axis-controlled UL’s (Ultra-lights) and Gyros on 15 January
2019 and German LTF-ULH 2019 for UL-Helicopters was published on 28 February 2019.
In the Czech Republic the new rules were published in March. The Czechs coordinate
with DULV (Deutscher Ultraleichtflugverband) and DAeC (Deutscher Aero Club) and try to
be compatible with Germany as much as possible and also using the LTF-UL 2019 standard.
France has worked out a solution with the DGAC (Directorate General for Civil Aviaton)
for microlights to have up to 525 kg MTOM.
Europe Air Sports is now seeking a meeting with the European Civil Aviation Conference
(ECAC). We hope to make our case for an ECAC Recommendation intended to facilitate
simple cross border flying for aeroplanes up to 600 kg MTOM.
In separate news the FAI Microlight and Paramotor Commission, CIMA, has increased the
limits for microlight competitions to 600 kg MTOM, according to Opt-out conditions.
“even the UK will opt out” 
I wonder how this will pan out. The P2008 is a VLA with MTOW of 640kg (if I’m not completely mistaken). However, the empty weight is so large that with two normal middle aged dudes, and no extra luggage, the fuel can only be filled half up. It got 100l tanks, but only 50 can be used.
Even though it has a Rotax 912, MTOW of 640, it still is a one man plane when it comes to longer distance cross country, even worse so than some ULs.
The market decides I guess. More bling sell better than more pay load obviously. So much that the increase in MTOW means nothing.
There should also be a max empty weight, or a minimum pay load.
