Dear BFI,
Through the entire headache that the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule has created for ultralight instructors, some of you may have decided to let your BFI lapse. This is totally understandable. But please allow us to offer the following suggestion: Don't give up yet.
Your BFI is still valuable. It allows you to continue to provide much needed ULTRALIGHT instruction in your 2-seat ultralight airplane, trike or powered parachute. And the cut off date, though eminent, is still SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY. And if FAA decides to extend the deadline per the USUA petition, is possibly even farther off (don't count on this until it is announced- you know the FAA...). In any event, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE ENOUGH QUALIFIED ULTRALIGHT INSTRUCTORS AVAILABLE TO OFFER TRAINING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
Also, you have all registered students in the past, and those student registrations dated before September 2004, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SPORT PILOT TRANSITIONING BENEFITS (even if the student did not complete pilot registration). These are the same reduced-requirement benefits as are offered to an ultralight pilot registered before that time. These students will need to complete the pilot training and registration process, and will need a BFI (most likely the one who introduced them to ultralights; YOU) to accomplish this.
And, because of the financial impact SP/LSA will most likely have on your situation, USUA is offering you an opportunity to renew your BFI with a $25 savings from the normal $100 fee. A year of BFI privileges will only cost you $75 ($6.25 per month). And to help keep it manageable, USUA is offering you a way to renew your BFI FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE REMAINING TIME OF THE EXEMPTION (as described in the Sport Pilot rule). We have provided a simple rate chart with the new BFI Renewal (for USUA instructors) or Conversion (for ASC & EAA instructors) Form, showing how you can save money, time and headache by renewing today. These can be downloaded at http://www.usua.org/PDF/. Simply find your BFI expiration date (as recorded on your BFI card or exemption), find the matching date on the chart, and enclose the appropriate amount as detailed on the chart.
All this adds up to increased value for your BFI. I encourage you to consider renewing your registration today. If you have just renewed your BFI, and would like to extend it through the January 2008 cut-off, just call USUA for your current BFI expiration date and register accordingly.
More Options:
Another option that USUA would like to extend to you is the Sport Pilot Transitional Seminar. USUA
Seminar Presenter Jim Sweeney is in the process of scheduling classes for July through the end of the year.
Topics covered will be:
These classes are 8 hours in length (all day), and will also satisfy the need for a BFI refresher and AFI renewal. PLEASE NOTE: A minimum prepaid registration of 16 persons is required for these classes. IF THE MINIMUM PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET, THE CLASS CANNOT BE HELD. You may want to coordinate a seminar through your local club. For additional information call Jim Sweeney at (847) 612-8437, or email him at jimsweeney@att.net. The cost of the seminar is $100 per person for USUA members and USUA Club members, $125 for non-members. Keep in mind: THE CUT OFF FOR TRANSITIONING ULTRALIGHT PILOTS INTO SPORT PILOT IS JANUARY 31, 2007. Time is slipping away quickly, and you need to have as much information and preparedness as possible so that you can successfully complete the required FAA exams.
Thanks for your continued commitment to ultralight safety, and your support of USUA.
Sincerely,
Dale Hooper
Executive Vice President, USUA