Aviation News and Press Releases
October 2006 --- Heldeberg Designs LLC Announces Release of SLSA Powered Parachute:
Heldeberg Designs LLC manufacturer of the Blue Heron Powered Parachute announces the completion of their SLSA aircraft conformance project. This was a 2 1/2 year project.
Final performance standard testing took place over the course of the past 6 months in Blacksburg Virginia under the direction of Dr. Kevin Kochersberger, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech. Load, drop, side impact, frontal impact, and various other tests were performed as specified by the ASTM standards. These tests, along with compiled historic data and flight testing finished the analysis portion of the SLSA project.
"We have altered very little in the base design of our aircraft for the past 10 years", says Nick Viscio of Heldeberg Designs LLC. "This has given us the broad basis of consistent historic information to fortify our ASTM performance testing. This insurance is simply not available for new airframe designs and gives us a high degree of confidence in our findings", concludes Viscio.
The new Blue Heron Marathon SLSA is based on the signature Marathon model which has been produced by the company since 1995. The SLSA model of the aircraft includes amongst other things, the rugged Blue Heron Strut landing gear, compliance to all FAA requirements and will come "N" numbered with a complete airworthiness certificate. The plane will be delivered ready to fly. The company will be taking orders for the aircraft for delivery beginning in January 2007.
A notice from the EAA web site concerning "ultralights":
Before you buy, EAA's Ultralight Council suggests you contact a local ultralight enthusiast for some valuable advice. Start with your nearest EAA Ultralight Chapter. ASC and USUA clubs have a wealth of knowledge they will share with you ... just ask! Look for a dealer that not only offers a good product, but training, too. Some manufacturers offer comprehensive flight training or can, at least, introduce you to a flight instructor operating under an FAA exemption for two-place training.Don't be fooled into buying a two-seater thinking it's an ultralight!
You may end up owning an experimental aircraft that can be flown only by an FAA-licensed pilot. The FAA considers two-seaters to be airplanes that don't fall under the Part 103 ultralight regulations. The only exception is for ultralight instruction properly authorized ultralight flight instructors can fly a two-place ultralight for the purpose of flight instruction. Learn about becoming a ultralight flight instructor. If you're interested in buying or building a two-place aircraft, EAA will gladly send you the information needed to operate it legally. EAA can also help you find an FAA-certified Flight Instructor who will work with you to obtain an FAA pilot license, such as the simpler recreational license. Call EAA Information Services at 920.426.4821 to learn more.
The only exception is two-seat ultralight trainers operated by ultralight instructors operating under a two-place training exemption.
Sport Pilot Improvements:
Over a year into the Sport Pilot transition and many things are happening. Most good, some bad. But we are moving. ASC has structured support for the community in several ways. The web site www.aerosports.org has a lot of valuable support for the pilots and there aircraft.
In this edition we have articles about many aspects of the transition. Including “Sport Pilot on a Shoestring” showing that with an express effort costs for Sport Pilot and plane certification together can be held to as little as $700.
Aircraft certification is made easier also with forms and guidance that is provided with the personal touch. If you have questions, we are here to help. As a new Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR), I understand the process and can help you get your aircraft certified as an Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (ELSA) or as an Amateur Built (AB). See the web at http://www.aerosports.org/elsa_appl.htm . The office even has the multi-page ditto form for aircraft registration we can send to you by mail.
Some new DARs are being added over the country. Most areas are handling these DARs out of the Manufacturing Inspection District Offices (MIDO) that have larger regions to use the DAR over. To find your MIDO look at http://www.aerosports.org/faa_midos.htm . The MIDO is the starting point to get your aircraft certified.
But DARs are not easy to get going. See Jack McCornack’s article, “A Glut of One” (AERO April 06).
New Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE) are coming on-board and are available through the www.faa.gov site. The good news is that there are a significant number of airplane examiners available, although not nearly enough to cover the whole country. The bad news is there are only 11 Powered Parachute (PPC) examiners and 14 Weight-Shift Control (WSC) examiners. While over 100 potential examiners have not taken the test to qualify for the next class.
FAA Rejects Safety Initiative:
Sadly the ASC exemption request to expand ultralight empty weights to allow safety research on improvements has been denied. Called “the Carrier Proposal” after Dick Carrier who coordinated the effort, nearly two years ago. Directors Scott Toland and Grant Smith comment in this edition. It has been speculated that FAA is clearing the docket, at leadership direction, without real consideration. Several other exemption requests are reported to have been denied.
Light-Sport Aircraft Benefits:
The new rule has benefited the community radically. With over 30 new aircraft available, many pilots see the benefits in aircraft that are both new and at lower cost than General Aviation (GA). There are changes yet to come as lighter end aircraft become available from domestic manufacturers. Already there are two WSC Special Light-Sport Aircraft (SLSA) and it is expected that Several PPC SLSA will be unveiled at Sun n’ Fun. As competition reduces prices, there are limits. New engines cost more than they used to, but the hope is that the new examples start reflecting the true Ultralight heritage.
Support with a Personal Touch:
Don’t settle for canned responses and confusing jargon, ASC is making it simple and supporting your flying. When you call ASC you can get real answers without the organization hype. ASC is here to help. See our website or call the office. We can get you answers and will help you along the way. Making sense out of the confusion is what ASC is doing. Come join ASC.
Jim Stephenson
Ultralight Pilot to Sport Pilot Ground School
Our first Ultralight/Sport Pilot deadline of January 31, 2007 has indeed come and gone. During the past year and a half Destination Flight, Inc. has helped to transition well over 100 ultralight pilots into the Sport Pilot designation. Nationwide the end of 2006 brought 936 Sport Pilots to the ranks of certificated pilots in the US; we are proud to say that over 12% of these candidates came to Destination Flight looking for guidance, training and certification. We would like to take a moment to personally thank each and every pilot and student pilot and remind you all that learning to fly is a never ending flight. If there is anything that we can ever do to help with your continuing training in the future just let us know!
Destinaiton Flight's flight training webpage.
Ultralight pilots have traveled from near and far to attend our transitioning ground school. The course is designed to help the transitioning Ultralight Pilot prepare for the Sport Pilot written knowledge test and also get a firm insight as to the Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards and how the Sport Pilot Examiner will use the PTS for the oral and practical exams.
Our next Sport Pilot ground school is being scheduled for March 3rd & 4th, 2007
Powered Parachute / Airplane / Weight Shift Control
Saturday & Sunday from 8:00 AM to approximately 5:00 PM
At the Three Rivers Airport
Three Rivers, Michigan
The two day course fee is: $250.00
You MUST pre-register by February 26th, 2007 to attend. This allows us to order and receive the training materials that you will need for the class.
The course is designed to help the current ultralight pilot transition into the sport pilot certification or any sport pilot student that has all ready become familiar with aviation through home study or practical flight hours.
The areas of Knowledge that will be covered are:
Regulations
Weather and Weather Services
Flight Physiology
Aircraft Performance
Airports and Airspace
Procedures and Operations
Cross-Country
The course fee includes the following training materials:
ASA 07 Sport Pilot Test Prep
2007 FAR/AIMS
Practical Test Standards (category specific)
ASA E6B
Fixed Flight Plotter (Rotary Azimuth available for slightly extra charge.)
Area Sectional Chart of choice
(If you all ready own any of these publications or pilot supplies we will credit the retail amount off of the cost of the course.) We are also happy to pre-ship these items to you for an additional shipping charge of $8.10.
At the completion of the course your flight instructor will issue each student the needed written recommendation to present to the computer testing facility for the candidate to sit for the written knowledge test.
Bring your ultralight logbooks to class and we will help you determine approximately how much additional training you will need to qualify for CFR 14 61.313 aeronautical experience minimums to receive your endorsements to take the practical test.
Local accommodations are available .
Visit our website, reply to this email or give us a call for additional information.
www.destinationflight.com
269.496.9301
Press Release: Introducing Air Elite Aviation, Inc. and the SLSA Rally (1-25-2006)
Destination Flight, Inc. based at the Three Rivers Airport, Three Rivers, Michigan is proud to introduce Air Elite Aviation, Inc. as the exclusive distributor of the newest Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) the Rally by Storm. The SLSA Rally will be an exciting addition to Destination Flight, Inc.'s flight school light sport aircraft flight line. The 2006 plane is expected to arrive at the Three Rivers Airport before the end of February and will rent for about $75 per hour; the flight school customer can feasibly go from student to Sport Pilot with a minimum of 20 hours of training. The Great Lakes International Aviation Conference, held at the Lansing Center, last weekend was Destination Flights unveiling of the SLSA Rally as............(Complete News Article)
NEWS RELEASE DECEMBER 20, 2005
BLUE HERON POWERED PARACHUTES SPONSORS FIRST FAA CERTIFIED LSA INSPECTION COURSE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT HELDEBERG DESIGNS LLC (WWW.BLUEHERONPPC.COM) OR MARK BAYER AT (WWW.SKYCHUTES.COM).
ROCHESTER NY - ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PROFESSOR DR. KEVIN KOCHERSBERGER HELD THE FIRST FAA CERTIFIED LSA SELF INSPECTION COURSE THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY CAME TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING AND BECOMING CERTIFICATED TO PERFORM THEIR OWN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THEIR E-LSA AIRCRAFT. THIS CERTIFICATION IS NECESSARY FOR ANY PILOT WHO WISHES TO CONDUCT THE FAA REQUIRED ANNUAL SELF-INSPECTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COURSE, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://LSA.RIT.EDU. DR. KOCHERSBERGER IS AN ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AT RIT AND WRIGHT AIRCRAFT PILOT. IN 2003 DR. KOCHERSBERGER PILOTED THE WRIGHT FLYER DURING THE RE-ENACTMENT OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLIGHT IN KITTY HAWK, NORTH CAROLINA. DR. KOCHERSBERGER IS AN AUTHORIZED FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE FOR HELDEBERG DESIGNS LLC OF WRIGHT, NEW YORK, MANUFACTURERS OF BLUE HERON POWERED PARACHUTES. HE RECEIVED HIS FACTORY TRAINING DURING AUGUST OF 2005 AT BLUE HERON AIRPORT AND FLIGHT TRAINING FROM MARK BAYER OF SKYCHUTES INC., ROCHESTER NY. ADDITIONALLY, HELDEBERG DESIGNS LLC DONATED THE USE OF AN AIRFRAME ALONG WITH A CANOPY AND VARIOUS AIRFRAME PARTS FOR THE COURSE. THE R.I.T. LAS INSPECTION COURSE IS A MILESTONE IN THE TRANSITION PROCESS TO LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT COMPLIANCE. Read the complete story as printed in AeroSport and UltraLight.
The Macedon Air Force?
Police use volunteer powered parachutes to search for marijuana crops
Macedon Police Chief, John Ellis in the passenger seat awaits takeoff with pilot,
Gordon Merkel from Ram-Air Skyways.
Last year, the Macedon Police discovered large marijuana-growing operations in the swampy areas just off the CSX rail lines and near the Erie Canal areas. Finding the sophisticated operations among the heavy growth was a challenge. Going hip deep in water and mud also posed problems. In the end, Macedon Police uprooted 700 of the illegal plants before harvest. Still, they knew that much of the crop eluded their search. In an effort to thwart marijuana growers in Macedon, Officer John Colella, utilizing grant monies, beckoned the help of local powered parachute pilots to seek out well-hidden patches of marijuana in corn fields, wooded and swampy areas. The added rains of the summer made traipsing through the swamp areas more difficult. The State Police helicopter, often used for marijuana searches this time of the year, is stretched by scheduling conflict. Colella thought involving the low-flying sport hobbyists would fit the bill. The pilots, flying out of the Long Acres fields in Macedon were only too glad to oblige. Carefully mapped out coordinates, radio contact and a host of Macedon and Wayne County Drug Task Force officers were on hand for the first flight last Monday. Macedon Chief, John Ellis went up on the initial search in the powerful 65 horsepower fan-driven, parachute aircraft that allows for low passes of distant areas. The Chief indicated that spotting the almost green fluorescent marijuana crop from the air would give police an advantage over the growers. Macedon Police did not reveal what, if anything they found, but indicated more trips using the volunteer air force is being scheduled. Utilizing the air coverage and the 4-wheeler ATV the Department also purchased with the grant will put a substantial dent in local marijuana growing operations, according to Chief Ellis. Colella said that besides the volunteer flyers, he hopes to utilize power company and Mercy Flight pilots in helping stamp out the drug growth in Macedon. He also said the pilots will be used in cases of missing persons.
See Channel 13 news video follow-up story CH 13 video (2.5MB .wmv)
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July 20, 2004 Sport Pilot rules release by FAA. Read all about it.
Many people who got into this sport many years ago are now ready for the new, technologically advanced machines. Their units are very sound and sturdy and will make a good learning unit for someone. GOOD DEAL.
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Many people who have older machines are questioning what they will have to do to make their units "airworthy" under the new Sport Pilot rules. BAD DEAL, you may get stuck.
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Always get a committment from the seller concerning required upgrades and inspections that may be required in the future.
