Ultralight Instruction / Third Party Insurance

[tfreeman]

We have an active USUA club and bought a Quicksilver MX 2 years ago. It has been rebuilt by the membership and is now an airworthy plane. We have several 0 time members that would like to learn to fly this plane. We have a former BFI and a GA pilot or two and a sport pilot or two who would also like to fly this plane. Our problem now is how do we go about training our pilots to fly safely since the BFI program has been eliminated and also how do we apply for the third party insurance metiond on USUA's web site since it requires USUA pilot registration. The USUA pilot registration seems to require training from the now defunct BFI/AFI program. Any help in getting this USUA club flying our MX in a safe manner without having to travel 150 miles to train in a J-3 or two seat plastic $100,000 trainer is appreciated. We are USUA club 203 located in rural northern Pa.

[usua]

Hello Tom,

Thanks for the post.

RE Training: Yes, this is becoming a problem for those who fly "ultralight-like" aircraft. As you already know, the official answer, is that training is done by CFIs now. The problem is, that there are very few CFIs willing to climb into these contraptions, unless the CFI was previously involved with ultralight training. If you are lucky enough to find a CFI who is willing to train in a plane like your Quicksilver, that's great. If not, i would encourage you to spread the word to the former BFIs in your area, to get their CFI rating, so they can continue training. Also encourage local ultralight pilots who are interested, to obtain their sport pilot and sport pilot CFI ratings. The future of this kind of flying will rely heavily on the people who are currently involved with the sport.

Of course, to be able to fly that plane at all, means it must be registered, have an airworthiness certificate, and be flown by an FAA certificated pilot.

RE Insurance - The insurance requires that each person be a member of USUA, the plane be properly registered (either as an ultralight, if its part 103, or as an N-Numbered plane, if its not), and that the applicant hold some form of rating to fly it (either an ultralight rating from one of the organizations, or an FAA pilot certificate). Right now, the only way we can accept a USUA pilot registration, is from a CFI.

[Ted Bryant]

Well there is one flight school still doing Ultralight Training. We're using a RANS S-12.

B&B Sport Aviation in Cambridge Maryland

Ted Bryant
410.221.8009
B&B Sport Aviation
www.bbsportaviation.com