June 2009

This is a regular informational bulletin published by the Western Powered Parachute Association, LLC, devoted to promoting the sport of powered parachuting through education, communications and participation.  If you would like to be removed from the mailing list go directly to the distribution site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westernppa/

“The mission of the Western Powered Parachute Association is to promote the sport of powered parachuting in the Western United States through Education, Participation and Resources.”

In This Issue:

•·          What’s Next?

•·          Training Corner Recovering from Hovering

•·          SPA Proficiency Program

•·          2009 Calendar

•·          PPC Caravan 2009

•·          Stay Connected

•·          Resources

FEATURE

Sport Pilot Academy www.sportpilotacademy.com

Published by Western Powered Parachute Association LLC westernppa@comcast.net

Doug Maas 360 771-4047 Maas0755@comcast.net Website: http://westernppa.org

Newsletter Distribution Group Site: http://sixchuterwest.com/   While you are on the Six Chuter West website, explore the many other “articles” in several categories.  These articles are published weekly and are archived in the various categories.

WHAT’S NEXT ON THE PLAY CARD?

Wow what a start to the flying season!  The N.W. Powered Parachute Coalition Memorial Day Rally in Quincy Washington was one of the best ever in the eighteen year history of the event.  You can read a full and detailed report of that rally at MEMORIAL DAY 2009 .  This early spring event capped off one of the busiest winter seasons we have ever had. We have successfully “certified” 10 new sport pilots or added category and class ratings to existing pilot licenses. And over the winter-spring quarter we soloed nine new powered parachute pilots!  And the N.W. Powered Parachute Coalition had the best attended and most successful rally in an eighteen year event history!  During that rally a handful of pilots conducted 71 “discovery flights”, an all time record for the club and our association.  Ok the proof is in….”sport pilot has not indeed been the “death nail” of the sport of powered parachuting”.  For every pilot who quits the sport they are replaced roughly by five to seven newcomers…at least in the Pacific Northwest.

Congratulations to the following pilots for completing the solo course:

•  1. Tim Vedder
• 2. Tom Connelly
• 3. Bob Paysee
• 4. Chris Lunsford
• 5. Hal Hawley
• 6. Jim Webb
• 7. Keith Cox
• 8. Kevin Cox
• 9. Tom Pratt

 And congratulations to this list of new and totally “street-air” legal powered parachute pilots: 

The Continuing Challenge

The continuing challenge for the Western Powered Parachute Association is recruitment, and maintenance of enough instructors to keep up with the incoming tide.  What a great problem to have actually.  Despite seven core instructors in Oregon and Washington, one affiliate in Tracy California and one WPPA affiliate in Helena Montana I would have to conclude that we are still encouraging a few serious and dedicated folks to step up to the CFI level.  The reality is that most of the CFIs have real and full time jobs and are not able to dedicate near full time to instructing.  Those of us who can are “full to the brim” with students.  Throw in the reality of weather, scheduling, field and equipment availability, and well…you can see the problem. For students we simply encourage you to be patient, on one hand, and on the other be assertive in staying connected with your instructor!

 Our enrollment in accelerated training is increasing with the following new students signed up:

•  Ken Stribling, Lakeview Oregon
• Kelly Field, George Washington
• Hans Behrens, Sister Oregon
• Brendan O’Mara, Albany Oregon

 Much More to Follow

The N.W. Powered Parachute Coalition Calendar is packed with a variety of events to come so take time to check out the calendar and get prepared early for the remainder of the flying season.

Training Corner: Recovering from Hovering

The skill level of our N.W. Powered Parachute pilots was never displayed better than at the 2009 Memorial Day Rally.  On two successive evenings the wind came up suddenly to over 20 knots.  And on both evenings the result was a landing and recovery experience that was handled by pilots and ground crews nearly flawlessly.

Usually early in a training experience a student will ask the question, “What happens if I am in the air and the wind comes up suddenly?”  My quick response has usually been some nearly flippant comment about “just land”.  After watching the “group” experience in Quincy we are able to expand on our training direction for this occurrence.

We had two categories of recovery from the sudden high winds.  The first included a few pilots who were so far from the field that returning was unlikely.  The second category was safely recovering a dozen pilots or so and landing them safely with winds on the ground in excess of 20.  We should comment too that this was indeed a “sudden” experience on both evenings.  In neither case was this wind speed predicted and based on what we had seen on previous days it was totally unexpected.  And it was sudden.  On the first evening we looked up to see one ppc hovering at around 600-700′ over the field.  Within minutes a dozen others at lower altitudes were also hovering over the field.

Here are the basics of handling this experience:

1. Keep cool and fly the plane! This is always job one and to a pilot our club members did just this.  Panic leads to poor decisions.  Trying to maintain calm and determine how much control you have usually leads to the revelation that you are still flying safely and in total control…just not as fast as you were before the wind. Ok I know this is easier said that done but all our pilots focused on this task first and the result was “no hits, no runs…and nobody left in the air”. In several cases despite the aircraft being only a mile from the field it took 30-60 minutes of cool and calm to get them to the edge of the field and safely down. 
2. Communicate.  Nearly all our pilots had VHF radios and were able to assist each other with air to air communication and coordinate with ground crews with air to ground communication.  This allowed our ground crews to stage up to support one landing at a time, handle the canopy, clear the field and then call for the next “in line.”  It reminded me of a carrier landing operation and was really something to behold.
3. Decide Early to Land.  For a few pilots who were trapped more than 20 miles from the field they made a decision early to find a safe place to land.  In one case it was in an open field, near road and house.  In another case the pilot “crabbed” sideways for miles to land at the Ephrata airport.  Upon landing they used their cell phones to report back to our pre designated flights ops telephone number.  They and their machines were back on the field in no time.
4. Depend on the Ground Crew. This takes some discussion and planning and thought ahead of time.  If you land, kill your mag switches and reach out and pull your steering lines, as you have been taught, the result will be that you create a drag chute that will send you moving backwards at the velocity of the wind.  The result usually isn’t pretty.  Even with help from the ground, if you use a standard technique to deflate the wing, the result is often a slow speed roll over in the direction that the canopy is being pulled. The technique we use with a lot of success includes coaching the pilot to land, kill the switches, but continue to “fly the wing” overhead.  The ground crew is instructed to pull on the “upwind” steering line only.  The result if executed correctly is that the wing will swing overhead, into the wing and “crash” upside down and into the wind.  We have watched expert pilots like Clyde Poser use this technique with no ground assistance at all.  With proper pilot and ground crew coordination it seems to work every time.

In the end it continues to be a tribute to the safety of the powered parachute that we are able to fly and land safely in nearly any condition.  Of course trying to avoid the “hovering” experience is always the best course, but “stuff happens”.  Thanks again to our pilots and crews for handling things superbly at the Memorial Day Rally.

For more information on pilot proficiency, please visit sport pilot academy’s pilot proficiency program Sport Pilot Academy Proficiency Program

SPORT PILOT ACADEMY

As pilots, no matter how much training or how many hours we have in our logbook, we like to think we are always on the top of our game.  Unfortunately human physiology, psychology and several other “ologies” say that we are not.   We have to guard against this by being as proficient as we can every time we fly.  Being truly proficient will boost your self-confidence and show you are a pilot who understands the aviation environment, and is able to apply the skills and knowledge necessary to not only safely operate the aircraft but also ensure a safe experience for a passenger(s).  Proficiency requires constant learning new and polishing of existing skills.   
The challenge facing most of us as pilots once we finish our training and get our license, we are left on our own.   We finish our training and our instructors yell back as they fly off into the sunset “see you in two years for your BFR”.   What do we do now?   We go fly and if you are typical you fly in areas you are familiar with and you fly the profiles you feel you are good at.   Quickly your flying gets in a rut and you probably aren’t improving your overall pilot skills.   Good enough becomes good enough that is until one-day Murphy strikes and presents you with a challenge that you are not ready for. Hopefully the result is a sigh of relief, with little or no damages to the airplane, you or worst case your passenger.    What is needed is an outline to follow that will guide us through the process of not only maintaining proficiency, but also building true confidence and reliable skills.   That is where the Sport Pilot Academy’s Pilot Proficiency Program comes in.  
The Pilot Proficiency Program will give you a monthly outline you can use to tailor your continued education and flying that will keep your knowledge sharp and challenge your skills and abilities to make you a better pilot and be as good as you can be every time you fly.
When you join the program, every month you will have access to new videos and documents that will take you through an aviation topic (to help you grow your general aviation knowledge), a ground lesson, (to keep your knowledge sharp), and a flight exercise (which is a flight sequence designed to challenge your skills and give you practical scenarios to prepare you for that inevitable bad day).  And by the way, they can be fun to fly. 

Every month you will get a specific plan of action. When you sign up you will get the first module, the next month you will get the second module, each module builds on the previous. Here is a summary of what is available every month.

 4 Videos:

• An Intro to the Month’s Subjects 
• A Monthly Aviation Topic
• A Monthly Ground Lesson
• A Monthly Flight Exercise 

 Supporting documentation as needed each month:

• Checklists
• Procedure Documents
• Exercise outlines

This proficiency system is designed to give you step-by-step monthly training and flight exercises that will effectively build your proficiency and help you be at better pilot at any given time.

 Pricing:  $19/month for online access

                $29/month for online + DVD (monthly videos on a DVD mailed to you)

 There is a FREE introductory DVD available.   This FREE DVD is actually the first module in the Pilot Proficiency Program; it will explain in detail what the program is.   It will also give you a first proficiency exercise, aviation topic and ground lesson.   

To get a FREE Pilot Proficiency Program DVD send and email to info@sportpilotu.com Please put DVD in the subject line and your name and mailing address in the body of the email.  DVDs are shipped at the end of each month.

WHAT’S NEXT 

ARLINGTON N.W. EAA AIRSHOW

The Arlington EAA Northwest Air show is July 8-12^th.  http://www.nweaa.org/  This is touted as the third largest EAA Air show in the United States.  The air show is awesome and the displays and activities will indeed keep you busy for the week.  We have managed to make this a “flying” event too.  Mike Lersbak has a limited number of camping spots for club members in the light sport area, adjacent to the runway that we fly from.  Contact mikel@clayhillproperties.com to make reservations there.  If you aren’t able to secure a camping spot there, there is the large RV camp ground on the airport at the N.E. side of the show.  Contact mike ahead of time and we can arrange for your aircraft to be parked near the flying field.  Contact the specified link on the air show site for the RV campground reservation.

BROWNSVILLE, OREGON CLUB RALLY

> Hello Everyone,
> >
> > Just wanted to remind you of the Brownville fly-in August 26-30th. The field should be in better condition this year. Frank Kelley has volunteered to mow all 160 acres, with scissors if necessary.
> >
> > The golf course will be set up again. Trap shooting with fun and games at Frank’s place. We will be adding a volleyball net this year for those interested. Custom embroidery will be on sight – thank you for the support last year. We’re planning on a food vendor, hopefully the same one as last year, but not confirmed. If you have any contacts, please let us know.
> >
> > Because of the increase in pilots this year, we are planning on at least three port-a-poties. As most of you know the Caravan will be joining us. We expect that to add 10-20 flyers. I have also had contact with a California club that may have as many as 6 pilots join us. Should be a good exciting group.
> >
> > If you have any questions, contact me at:
> GareyJoAnn@aol.com

Location: Go to google map and enter sunset Dr. Brownsville, Oregon. It’s the field to the West of sunset.

Watch the club site for ongoing and additional information http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwpoweredparachutecoalition/

The Northwest Powered Parachute Coalition, EAA UL Chapter 127 is helping welcome…host, the 2009 Powered Parachute Caravan.  Bill Vietti (Vie) is organizing and leading the trip.  The official website is http://ppcpilot.com/CARAVANS/I/PPCCaravanInfo2.htm. The PPC Coalition is coordinating with Vie to make this one of the best caravans ever.  We have plotted an initial course that starts at Bonneville Skybase (south end of the Great Salt Lake), routes through Northern Nevada and California and joins the coalition at the annual rally at Brownsville, Oregon. The suggested route then stops on the Oregon Coast at Tillamook and continues to the Puget Sound area at the Seattle Powerchutes Flight Center, Arlington, Washington.  The trip will then continue over the Cascade Mountains with a planned stop at the Camp Ranch in Lacrosse, Washington then off towards home through Idaho.  We are hoping that a good number of Coalition members will join us at least for the Oregon and Washington route. Contact Vie (a.k.a. Bill) eyesbydrvie-1@yahoo.com or Mike Bird (Activities Coordinator for EAA UL Chapter 127) at flynlownslo@yahoo.com. All caravanners are encouraged to join the N.W. PPC Coalition and the coalition is offering this membership for 2009 as complimentary.  Contact Doug Maas at maas0755@comcast.net for membership information. 

Road Map to Staying Connected

•  WPPA BULLETIN If you want to receive regular information about the sport, events, training and news on the West Coast, you will receive this bulletin.  If you have someone who would like to join this bulletin list steer him or her directly to Western Powered Parachute Association.  You will find a page to download the most current training catalogue and a “news” form on the lower right hand side of the page.  Fill that out to automatically receive the monthly news.
•  EAA ULTRALIGHT CHAPTER 127 If you want to network directly with other PPC enthusiasts in the Northwest, check out the N.W. Powered Parachute Coalition
•  SIX CHUTER OWNERS If you own a Six Chuter powered parachute join the Six Chuter Owner’s Website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sixchuterowners/ Just go to the site and “request to join”.  This site provides an exclusive site where Six Chuter owners can access resources specific to their powered parachutes, and exchange ideas among other owners.
•  If you want to receive free regular information on Six Chuter Inc. powered parachutes you may receive a monthly free E-bulletin from Six Chuter.  If you are not receiving this bulletin already go to this site and sign the “news” form on lower right hand side of the page. http://sixchuterwest.com/
•  PPC SALES If you are in the market for a new or used powered parachute and would like to review monthly classifieds and other information about aircraft and support services check out http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=8 

• PPC ACCESSORIES If you are shopping for powered parachute accessories up to and including canopies, go to http://www.ppcdecals.com/

• MAINTENANCE If you need service on your Rotax engine there are three authorized Rotax service stations in the region:
  • Portland-Vancouver Vancouver Ultralight Services, Rolando Santiago 360 904 8766 http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=294
  • Eastern Washington-Oregon Freedom Aerosports LLC, Steve Camp, sbcamp@wildblue.net 5095493321 www.freedomaerosports.com
  • Puget Sound- http://www.rainierultralightengines.com/ Clyde Poser Phone: 253-447-4398 Tech support: tech@rainierultralightengines.com Information: info@rainierultralightengines.com
  • Portland-Vancouver Perry Robertson, CFI, Repairman, Troutdale, OR 503 913-8536 perrobertson@comcast.net HTTP://www.p3-sports.com

SPORT PILOT TRAINING AND TESTING

If you are not receiving the monthly Student-Testing supplement from WPPA and would like to, email Doug Maas at westernppa@comcast.net  this report tracks our students, our testing schedule and instructor assignments. If you would like to receive a copy of “Sport Pilot Maneuvers” you can request a copy from the same email address or download from the “files” section of the club website.  Go to the WPPA website www.westernppa.org to download the current year training catalogue and find other resources

ALERT: To continue to receive the Western Powered Parachute Newsletter please go to http://sixchuterwest.com/ and fill out the Newsletter form on the lower right hand side of the home page. We remain in the process of consolidating a number of our websites and the method we use to distribute news.  The Six Chuter West website will become our sole location for articles and training bulletins.  This change is being made to increase Internet security on your end and ours and to make the process of production and distribution easier.  If you have any questions or concerns about how to sign up to continue to receive this news, email me at maas0755@comcast.net

SIX CHUTER NEWS JUNE 2009

·         Passing the Torch

·         SC West Opens New Quarters

·         Memorial Day 2009

·         Product News

·         OK Who Do We Contact?-Information on the Organization and How to Contact Us

·         Stay In The Loop-Stay In Contact

PASSING THE TORCH

I had the privilege once to pass a torch on the “Law Enforcement Torch Run” for Special Olympics fund raising.  So for many reasons it remains a nostalgic time that Dan Bailey continues to pass the torch of Six Chuter Inc. to our newly forming team.  Dan announced last week that 509 866-9211 (the 20 year phone number for Six Chuter Inc.) would be shut down! Funny that something so simple really marks a demarcation point to another era of powered parachuting. Please be sure to read information in this bulletin or on our websites to find the new phone numbers!

While you won’t be able to reach Dan Bailey very directly we want you to know that he remains the sole owner of Six Chuter Inc.  Furthermore he has entered a “mentoring” role that is likely long-term.  It all seemed somewhat simple to me initially, but the more that we take on actual manufacturing, the more I understand and therefore respect what Dan has sustained over a 20-year period. And without his very intense support this year we wouldn’t be at the level of service that we are. 

A quick summary is that Dan has sold the distribution and sales rights to two new entities, Six Chuter West LLC (west of longitude 98) and Six Chuter East LLC (east of 98 degrees longitude).  Both Six Chuter West and East are in the process of establishing “parts centers” responsible for subassembly that was traditionally accomplished by Dan and his team in Yakima, Washington.  And both East and West continue to build a network of “Flight Centers” where prospective and current owners can see new and used Six Chuters, sign up for training regardless of whether they own a powered parachute, and receive long-term service and support when they do.

Our intent is to make this as “seamless” as possible for current and prospective customers.  Whether you are looking for a high quality powered parachute, or you are a current customer hoping for continued support and service, we remain fully open with capacity increasing daily. 

Here are some recent highlights from the emerging team:

• Joe Fenstermacher, President of Six Chuter East LLC has announced the addition of a new flight center to his network.  Ed Connelly, Connelly LSA Services. LLC   3800 Glidden Drive   Sturgeon Bay, Wi. 54235 920-743-9027.   Ed recently spent a couple of weeks at Six Chuter East completing assembly on a new Legend XL Tandem and is currently at Rainbow Aviation in California completing the Repairman Maintenance Course.  We are excited to have a developing full service flight center in the upper mid-western U.S.
• Randy Long Arizona Powerchutes http://www.arizonapowerchutes.com/ has joined us as a representative in Six Chuter West, based out of Scottsdale, Arizona.  Randy has a long background in Commercial Hot Air Balloons and connected with us with the help of our S.W. Flight Center Representatives Wiley-Wales Powered Parachutes, Colorado.  Randy is flying a Six Chuter Legend XL with dual controls, SLSA certified.

“Hi Doug, Amy delivered my new Legend last week and I got my first flight in yesterday.  All I can say is WOW!  It was certainly worth the wait.  With the four blade prop and prop spinner this thing really has some amazing thrust!  Plus it’s pretty darn good looking too! Chuck and Amy were fantastic to work with.  You couldn’t ask for a better couple to have on the Six Chuter team.  They were over the top in customer service from start to finish.  I can confidently sell Six Chuter products with pride. Thanks for everything you and the rest of the Six Chuter team do to make flying fun again!  Randy “

Randy in his new Legend XL slsa

• Tim Vedder II, a human dynamo has opened Central Washington Powered Parachutes, Wenatchee, WA.  Although just getting involved in January, Tim is now President of Six Chuter West LLC, President of Central Washington Powered Parachutes and was the reason we managed to hold one of the best Memorial Day rallies ever, at his flight center in Quincy, Washington.  Tim flies N136SC, another Legend XL with full dual controls and SLSA certified.  N136SC was assembled by Rolando Santiago our factory approved SLSA assembler in the Pacific N.W.

Tim Vedder II Congratulates business partner Tom Connelly upon Tom’s first solo flight at Twin Firs Turf Farm

•  Six Chuter West LLC is settling into a new and what we hope to be permanent quarters at Pangborn Airport, East Wenatchee Washington http://www.pangbornairport.com/. Pangborn is also home to Northwing, Manufacturers of a popular weight shift LSA.  Six Chuter West will manage our parts, subassembly, preassembly and full SLSA assemblies from this location.  Future plans include expanding this location to a full service flight center with training, maintenance and other support.

 Memorial Day West 2009

 The 18^th Annual Memorial Day West powered parachute rally was recently held at Central Washington Powered Parachutes training field, Twin Firs Turf Farm, Quincy, Washington.( http://www.partiesonthegreen.com/   This event was started by Dan Bailey in Yakima, Washington in 1991!  It has evolved over time and led by Six Chuter Inc., Washington Powered Parachute Association and most recently by the Northwest Powered Parachute Coalition.  Dan is always able to put a historic, accurate and unique perspective on everything in the powered parachute community.  Here is a nice note from Dan Bailey, President of Six Chuter Inc. regarding the 2009 Memorial Day Rally in Quincy, WA.
————————————-

Job well done! Dan Bailey, President Six Chuter Inc.”

SC West Tom Connelly with newly preassembled P103UL

• Six Chuter West LLC is settling into a new and what we hope to be permanent quarters at Pangborn Airport, East Wenatchee Washington http://www.pangbornairport.com/. Pangborn is also home to Northwing, Manufacturers of a popular weight shift LSA.  Six Chuter West will manage our parts, subassembly, preassembly and full SLSA assemblies from this location.  Future plans include expanding this location to a full service flight center with training, maintenance and other support.

Tim Vedder II, President of Six Chuter West LLC provided more details on the move.  The new facility will provide up to 1800 sq. ft. of space for parts, subassembly and full assembly.  This, Vedder says, will increase our production capacity three-fold.

SixChuter West LLC 3904 Airport Way, East Wenatchee WA

 Vedder went on to say that the space on the airport now enhances the operation by providing a showroom and a location to complete production test flights.

Six Chuter West Show Room and Flight Test Center

Doug Maas, Chief Financial Officer for Six Chuter West and Communications and Marketing Director for Six Chuter Inc. explained that this part of the factory operation provides a central location for airframe assembly and the parts center.  He said that this location is enhanced by other flight center locations throughout the United States authorized to do final ELSA and SLSA assembly of Six Chuter powered parachutes.  Essentially we have six other factory locations rather than trying to operate out of one building in one location of the United States. The Six Chuter strategy is to put smaller service centers closer to our customer base rather than expecting them to receive support from one location.

Tom Connelly, Parts Center Manager with new preassembled Legend P103UL

Congratulations to Dennis Stanley and Lew Ershler for successful certification of Six Chuter Inc. XT ssdc 912 N198SC today.

Dennis on left receives SLSA Airworthiness certificate from DAR

The XT ssdc (side-by-side dual control) is distinctive as a unique dual control trainer designed for instructors and students who are seeking their sport pilot certificate.  Dennis and Lew went “above and beyond” by installing the 912 engine on N198SC.  Dennis flies in a class B airspace environment near Salt Lake City so also installed a transponder and other accessories and features to make N198SC night legal.

The "loaded" dash on N198SC

Dennis reports that the aircraft and manuals inspection process that goes with an SLSA inspection found “no discrepencies” whatsoever.  And the production test flight went just according to the plan.