Communicate, communicate, and communicate
USUA is a member's organization, made up of ultralight pilots and supported by the Board of Directors and the Administrative Staff. A key element of a member's organization is communication between the members and administration. Good communications is essential and a lack of communication results in the administration working on the wrong programs. Having the wrong programs is worse than having no programs. With all that in mind, the USUA BOD is reviewing ways to increase communications between the membership and the Board & Staff. The first suggestion for improved communications (already implemented) was an upgrade of the website. Bob Comperini has upgraded www.usua.org to a world class site and Dale Hooper is adding more & more information to it - information that is of interest to the membership. If you have not visited the website lately, give it a look. Information of interest and necessity can be found easily. By the same token, if you have a comment or suggestion, send it to the webmaster at webmaster@usua.org.
The second suggestion, which surfaced quickly, was to increase the visibility of USUA. Is the Board & Admin currently visible enough to foster good communications? There is never enough visibility for good communications, but we are increasing the visibility of the USUA Board & Admin this season. The goal is to increase communications by having Board members & Administrators attend functions that the membership will be attending. Sun n Fun, AirVenture, Signature Events and the Microlight National Championships are a few that have already been planned. The most recent addition to the list is the Powrachute Extravaganza 2004. USUA will hold the Semiannual Board Meeting in Columbus, KS during the Powrachute fly-in. The Extravaganza is a major event with hundreds of ultralight pilots in attendance and most with machines.
At some events, there will be a USUA tent, but at others the expense will be saved by attending with other organizations. Regardless of the accommodations, Board Members & Staff will be available, AFI/BFI Seminars will be offered and questions will be answered. At local fly-ins, USUA Regional Representatives will be in attendance. The process has been planned and has already started. Look for the USUA Board, Staff and Regional Representatives at events this summer. Ask questions, we encourage the communication.
The Sport Pilot Committee (F37) of ASTM held its semiannual meeting in Salt Lake City in May. ASTM is the organization coordinating the development of consensus standards for the design & manufacturing of Light Sport Aircraft. The committee is made up of Manufacturers, Users (dealers, distributors, representatives) and General Interest (pilots, organizations & others interested). The standards are a consensus of best practices from all segments of the light aviation industry.
Sub committees for all categories of LSA (fixed wing, weight shift, powered parachute, lighter than air and glider) are working on standards that will define the design and construction for future aircraft. Other subcommittees are working on specifications for engines, props, recovery canopies and noise. Work in each of the subcommittees continued/finalized the progress made during many hours of conference calls. The goal for all of committees is a set of documents completed in time for the release of the Sport Pilot Rule. The completed documents are available for purchase at www.astm.org.
Membership in ASTM is not required to participate in the consensus process or purchase the completed documents. The consensus process is very important for the future of both ultralight and light sport aircraft industries. USUA has been participating in the consensus process since it started, and has been actively representing ultralight pilots throughout that time.
Representation is another important member benefit of USUA. USUA attended the most recent of function of the ASTM standards committee in Salt Lake City. During this meeting, consensus standards for weightshift aircraft were approved. Much discussion was had regarding this type of airplane, especially since this type of aviation offers a different perspective than fixed wing aviation.
The ASTM process is also now considering consensus standards for flight parks and Fixed Base Operations. USUA will be there to offer it's years of experience in dealing with issues directly related air sport aviation, and these much needed commodities.
BRS & USUA Offer Discounts to Instructors
The United States Ultralight Association and Ballistic Recovery Systems have, for many years, worked closely together in the interest of ultralight safety. In a collaboration announced in early June, USUA Advanced Flight Instructors will be able to purchase a BRS emergency ballistic parachute system at discounted rates. "As an AFI, you've made a commitment to safety and training, we want to reward that commitment with extra discounts" says BRS representative Brent Ackley.
USUA Executive Vice President Dale Hooper comments, "All USUA AFI's are eligible for this discount, and are strongly encouraged by USUA to take advantage of this offer. BRS has proven itself to be an industry leader in safety equipment, and their product has saved many lives. USUA salutes the efforts of BRS executives Brent Ackley and Gregg Ellsworth, for their continued commitment to safety, and making their product available to those individuals who have been on the front lines of ultralight flight instruction for the past twenty years."
For additional information, about this new discount program, contact Brent Ackley or Gregg Ellsworth at (651) 457-7491. To learn about BRS, and their products, visit www.brsparachutes.com.
USUA to Hold the SABOD Meeting In Conjunction With The Powrachute Extravaganza
The USUA Semi-Annual Board Of Directors Meeting will be held, this year, in conjunction with the Powrachute Extravaganza in Columbus Kansas. This event, which runs from September 16th through the 19th, is one of powered parachuting's largest gatherings.
USUA BOD and staff will take advantage of this opportunity to meet with it's powered parachute members, and develop plans for increased involvement in this area of ultralight aviation.
Historically, the SABOD meeting has been held at USUA headquarters in Frederick Maryland. But, in keeping with USUA's new policy of open and active involvement with members, plans are shaping for this combined meeting.
The USUA Annual Meeting was held, in much the same fashion, this past February in Springfield Illinois, in conjunction with the Illinois State Ultralight Safety Seminar, with great success. It is hoped that the same success will accompany this venture as well.
The Powrachute Corporation was the 2003 Ultralight Industry Award winner for its exceptional business practices, and outstanding relations with the non- ultralight community in which it operates.
The 8th National Microlight Championships
Plans are well underway for the 8th National Microlight Championships, being held in Scottsburg Indiana, September 22nd through the 25th. At press time, pilots are honing their skills, and preparing their airplanes for this FAI sanctioned event. Participants will be involved in proficiency tasks based on international standards, which have been approved by the USUA Contests and Records Board.
The best American ultralight pilots will be participating in this event, with hopes of being selected for the next World Team. Familiar names such as Dave Hempy, Dave Ahlberg, Steve Bensinger, and Jack McCornack will be on hand for the festivities, as well as many new pilots in fixed wing, trike, powered parachute and powered paraglider ultralights.
For more information on the 8th National Microlight Championships, visit www.ultralightnationals.com, or j-grammer@insightbb.com.
Inventor Of Flexible Wing Technology Wins Katharine Wright Award
Gertrude Rogallo, who worked with her husband to patent "flexible wing" technology, won this year's Katharine Wright Award, given by the National Aeronautic Association.
The "Rogallo Wing," invented by Gertrude and Francis Rogallo in 1948, became the forerunner to several branches of aviation today, including hang gliding, paragliding and ultralight flight.
For her contributions to the growth of aviation, Rogallo won the Katharine Wright Award, given annually to a woman who has "made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period of time."
Gertrude aided her husband throughout his career, as he worked for the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, and later NASA. They worked together in developing an airfoil that was light, stable and flexible like a parachute but could create lift like an aircraft's wing.
The result was the prototype that she created in 1948 with her husband's plans, a sewing machine and old kitchen curtains the Rogallo Wing. Their invention was applied and refined in the last half century, allowing millions to enjoy the freedom of personal flight. Today, the Rogallos live in Kitty Hawk, N.C., near the site of the Wright Brothers first powered flight.