02/14/2006: USUA Announces 2005 National Championship Point Series Winners

USUA provides pilots of all ability levels have the opportunity to earn recognition while continuing to sharpen their skills. America's best pilots are recognized every year as National Points Champions. The National Championship Points Series encourages pilots from around the country to accumulate national ranking points. Those accumulating the greatest number of points are recognized at the annual USUA business meeting. Both Regional and National Points Champions are recognized, and awarded certificates of accomplishment. The Points Series has run continuously since 1987, and USUA has already received results from 2006 competitions.

View the winners of the 2005 Point Series Championships here.

02/14/2006: USUA Gears Up For The 2006 Ultralight/Microlight Competition Season

The USUA Board of Directors has once again given the go-ahead for another year of Ultralight/Microlight competition programs; including The National Championship Points Series, and FAI sanctioned International competitions. (Full story here)

02/01/2006: USUA 2005 Moody Award Recipient Announced

01/20/2006: USUA Annual Meeting Announced

01/20/2006: Washington DC ADIZ And USUA's Response

12/08/2005: USUA Forms Competition Committee

10/21/2005: Sport Aviation Expo Postponed

USUA has just been informed by Robert Wood, spokesman for the Sport Aviation Expo, that because of impending hurricane Wilma, the Expo has been postponed. Originally scheduled for Thursday, October 27 through Sunday, October 30, 2005 at Sebring Regional Airport, Sebring Florida, it has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 12 through Sunday, January 15, 2006.

USUA members planning on attending the Expo should check the USUA website frequently for any additional information regarding the status of the event, and any supplementary changes as they are made available.

09/01/2005: Katrina Victims Need Your Help

07/05/2005: USUA Petition Issued Docket Number - Call For Comments

As reported in June, the USUA Petition requesting extensions for Sport Pilot deadlines has received a Docket number (FAA-2005-21671-1), and is ready for comment. USUA encourages any and all interested persons to comment to this rulemaking effort. (Full details here).

06/21/2005: A Little Help From Our Friends

In a little over two months several Americans will arrive in Levroux, France to compete in the 10th World Microlight Championships. (Read the full story, and learn how you can help, here)

06/20/2005: Members In The News

USUA members lead exciting lives. This is evidenced by the type of aviation activities they love and cherish. USUA is beginning a new column that showcases our members, their families, and the truly unique way in which their love of ultralighting affects the lives of others. Visit our new Members In The News webpage.

06/15/2005: Carrier Petition Update

USUA has been receiving many calls and emails concerning the status of the Carrier Petition. USUA member Dick Carrier submitted a petition to FAA October 7, 2004, requesting a safety study involving Part 103 legal ultralights. This safety study would allow those ultralights the use of additional safety items (wheel brakes, additional instrumentation, electric start, etc). Here's the latest status on the progress of this petition.

06/14/2005: USUA Submits Petition to FAA To Extend Sport Pilot Transition Deadlines

06/13/2005: Steve Bensinger Named Region 4 Representative

04/29/2005: USUA 3rd Party Liability Insurance Enhanced. Insurance is now available for planes weighing up to 1150 pounds. (Read the details here).

04/19/2005: UltraFlight Magazine to become USUA's Preferred Publication

03/07/2005: USUA 2005 Annual Business Meeting Report

02/16/2005: Scottsburg Indiana Airspace In Jeopardy From MOA. USUA takes action, and asks members to voice opinions to FAA. (full story here)

12/18/2004: 2005 USUA Annual Meeting, 25th Annual IUAC Ultralight/Lightplane Safety Seminar

12/15/2004: USUA Now Offering Air & Space Magazine

09/23/2004: Photo gallery from the 2004 Powrachute Extravaganza

09/22/2004: View some photos taken at the 8th National Microlight Championships, held in Scottsburg, Indiana

07/29/2004: USUA training exemption renewed.

USUA has received our new training exemption, with an expiration date of January 31, 2008. These will be mailed to USUA instructors, when they renew.

06/21/2004: Homeland Security

05/27/2004: Inventor of flexible wing technology wins Katharine Wright Award

05/19/2004: USUA at Sun-n-Fun 2004

05/07/2004: USUA is very sad to report that Diane Ahlman, wife of USUA founder and past president John Ballantyne, passed away Wednesday, May 5th, 2004. (full story here)

03/10/2004: The 2004 USUA Annual Member Meeting and Ultralight Awards Ceremony is now history. It proved to be one of the most successful events USUA has ever produced. Read the Annual Meeting Reports here.

01/09/2004: Read this Letter To All USUA Members from Dale Hooper. This letter details USUA's progress during 2003, and USUA's plans for supporting Sport Pilot and Part 103 operations.

12/13/2003: Jack McCornack wins 2003 Moody Award

12/12/2003: Gary Brown (USUA #A72902), participated in the New Oxford Middle School "October Sky" activities. (Full story here)

12/07/2003: Dale Hooper Named USUA Executive Vice President.

11/03/2003: Change In The Ultralight Community

On this sunny, fall morning, I am reflecting on the course of events that USUA has experienced this year. During a time when most ultralight pilots are out enjoying a flight over the colorful countryside, we can't help but be reminded of the changes that occur all the time. Just like the changing of the leaves, we leave one season and move into another.

A dear friend of mine told me a story recently that is an excellent example of change and how we can adapt to it. (Read full story by Carol Plotnick here).

10/28/2003: California Ultralighters suffer losses from wildfires.

10/19/2003: Rich Pendergist (1944-2003).

09/30/2003: Competition Corner: Dave Hempy discusses the recent World Microlight Championship, and other competition related issues. Read the full story here.

09/23/2003: USUA Semi-Annual Board Meeting

08/28/2003: USUA Announces Ground Instructor Program.

08/12/2003: Arty Trost (USUA #A51113) resigned from her position on the USUA Board of Directors earlier this month. (Full story)

7/08/2003: USUA Member E-mail List:

In an effort to send timely and important information to our members in a more direct and efficient way, USUA has launched an announcement list. This list will be used to send important news to members via e-mail.

If you are a USUA member and you want to receive important announcements via email, please sign up for the list by visiting our online subscription form.

06/06/2003: Ultralight Pioneer Mike Jacober: A Tribute

05/30/2003: USUA Recovery Status - USUA Clubs and Members Help Out

Two and a half months since USUA Executive Vice President Rich Pendergist reported on the organizationąs financial status, USUA is showing signs ofrecovery. The debt is gradually being reduced. Staff believes this is due to better financial discipline and the unprecedented support of the USUA Clubs and members. Since March 2003, $2,561 (earmarked solely for debt reduction) was raised through the generous donations of USUA Club Number 1, the Southeastern Virginia UL Flyers, the Dallas-Fort Worth Lite Flyers and 31 individual members. In addition, the organization continues to benefit from the financial support from new and renewing members. Everyone at USUA thanks all the clubs and individuals who helped them. Although USUA still has a ways to go, your continued support of your organization does make a difference. Thank you!

05/23/2003: FAA'S New Light Sport Aircraft Program Office Established. (Full story)

04/30/2003: Even Airshows Change - by USUA President Reggie Deloach:

Having just returned from Sun and Fun, I would like to share some of my all too brief visit to the traditional first vendor showcase/fly in of the year with you. First, I appreciate the privilege and opportunity to represent USUA as its President while attending Sun and Fun 2003. (Full story)

04/30/2003: USUA Changes Some Rules, But Not Standards

Changes make a smoother ride for BFI/AFI’s:

They have been deliberated for some time, and now, USUA has changed some of the rules written in the Ultralight Airmen and Vehicle Registration Program. According to Dale Hooper, USUA, Director of Membership and Registration, We believe these changes reflect USUA's attitude about appropriate training requirements for all airmen registrations and that they will continue to provide for safe training as well as promote increased participation by future pilots and instructors.

The changes come as the results of requests, complaints and/or recommendations from USUA members nationwide and will be implemented immediately. (Full story)

04/30/2003: USUA EVP Chats With FAA Officials - Sun 'n Fun 2003:

In a rare opportunity for an informal chat with FAA officials, USUA Executive Vice President Rich Pendergist had a chance to talk with Steve Brown, Associate Administrator for Air Traffic Services and Peggy Gilligan, FAA, Deputy Associate Administrator, Regulation and Certification.

The opportunity came moments after a more formal "Meet the FAA" forum during Sun 'n Fun 2003, where Gilligan reported the FAA is, "making progress everyday," and that "FAA people in the most senior decision making levels are working on the Sport Pilot NPRM." (Full story)

04/30/2003: Dollars and "Sense" Contributions - USUA Members Answer the Call:

Since announcing financial troubles in March, USUA staffers have been pleasantly overwhelmed with an outpouring of help from concerned members. In addition to monetary donations members have written and called in with questions, concerns and creative ideas on how to help get USUA back on solid ground. (Full story)

03/25/2003: USUA Management Team Reacts:

Rich Pendergist, the new Executive Vice President of the USUA, answers your questions about the financial status of the USUA. (full story)

03/24/2003: Dave Hempy, and Paul Wells are appointed to the FAI Microlight Commission. (full story)

03/20/2003: USUA Club #1, challenges other clubs to help USUA.

03/19/2003: Notes from the 2003 United States Ultralight Association Annual Meeting.

03/19/2003: Other BFIs Welcome To Convert To USUA. USUA Training program now open to powered parachutes, Paragliders. (full story)

05/25/2002: USUA Effort gives trainers more weight for floats, parachutes. (full story)

05/06/2002:

The United States Ultralight Association recommended 14 changes to NPRM 11133 in its comment to FAA submitted May 6th, 2002.

USUA focused on one major area in the NPRM that it felt merited special attention as it could have a great impact on the ultralight sport and industry in the future. This was FAA's attempt to apply a one-size-fits-all rule for aircraft and operations that are, in application, widely separated ultralighting on one end and traditional small aircraft on the other. To date, there have been two very different sets of Federal regulations; Part 103 for ultralighting and Parts 21, 43, 45, 61, 65 and 91 for small aircraft.

USUA recommended that FAA establish a second Special Federal Regulation (SFAR) to codify the long-standing FAA exemptions for two-place ultralight training (and towing of hang gliders).

This two-tiered approach would encourage the FAA's "Sport Pilot" to be finalized while permitting ultralighters to gain the authority for two-seat recreation use under the more restrictive ultralight regulation. This second option is critical for those who want to fly today's ultralights and who do not mind being relegated to rural areas.

See the report

01/02/2002: OMB Moves SPP Quickly. Sport Pilot Proposal Back at DOT/FAA

In a relatively quiet but uncharacteristically quickadministrative action the White House Office of Management and Budget, OMB, approved the revised Sport Pilot Proposal and sent it back to the Department of Transportation, DOT, before the beginning of the Christmas Holidays. (full story)

11/06/2001: Deleault First On East Coast To Earn FAA Private Certificate In Trike

After receiving all his training in his own N-numbered two-seat Airborne Edge trike, Pete Deleault of Bow, New Hampshire, received a private pilot certificate on October 28th flying the same trike. (full story)

08/29/2001: USUA Holds First Summer Board Meeting

The USUA Board of Directors met in Frederick, Maryland on August 27th and 28th to begin a new tradition. As of this year there will be a summer board meeting to go along with the customary winter meeting held at the annual USUA Convention. (full story)

08/24/2001: Bill Bardin's fight to keep airport open to ultralighters

He just wouldn't take "no" for an answer and after two-years of tediously wrangling the bureaucracies of both local and national aviation rule makers, he was awarded that which was already his; the right to and take-off in his ultralight at a publicly funded, county operated airport. (full story)

Still can't find what you're looking for? Try searching the USUA website.