Proposed MOAs - Click image to view full sized image.

USUA Club 167, The Scottsburg Aero Club, has recently received notice of a proposed MOA (Military Operating Area) that will cover the area north of the club's operational area. This proposed MOA could, if granted by FAA, affect all Ultralight and Light Sport operations in that part of Indiana, crippling the clubs ability to fly.

Club President John Grammer contacted USUA EVP Dale Hooper with the bad news. With the plea for help in hand, USUA went into action by sending a letter of opposition to the FAA in this matter. Citing safety issues that will be created by mixing military jet activity with the much slower Ultralights that frequent the airspace in question, as well as possibly eliminating Ultralight and Light Sport activity all together, USUA has mounted a strong offensive to try and defend members rights to fly.

USUA EVP Dale Hooper stated, "USUA is in full support of the U.S. military and their outstanding efforts to train, and test aircraft and pilots, thereby creating a strong defense of our nation. This is not in question. We feel problems result when unnecessary access issues are created in an area of high Ultralight activity, raising safety concerns for our members, and the sport of Ultralighting in general. As you remember, Scottsburg Indiana was selected as the host for the 8th National US Microlight Championships this past September, and is being considered for future events of this nature. These events not only benefit the Ultralight community, but can help boost the local economy also. USUA believes that there are areas of our country available to the military that would meet their needs as well, if not better than the proposed Indiana MOA, and would not jeopardize Ultralight activity in any way. We encourage FAA to explore these other potential areas, and allow Air Sports to continue to flourish in and around the Scottsburg Aero Club."

USUA encourages all members affected by the proposed MOAs in Indiana, to write a response to FAA detailing their objections and safety concerns. Letters should be addressed to:

The opportunity to comment will end on February 22, 2005, so letters need to be written and mailed immediately.

Other responses:

• John Grammer (PDF)
• Dave Ahlberg (PDF)
• USUA (PDF)
• AOPA (PDF)
• ASC (PDF)