November 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 email maas0755@comcast.net   

 

“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:

•        The Few, The Proud, The Cold!
•        Scanning the Horizon (Calendar)
•        Training Corner- -Seeking a Few Good Aviators (CFIs) Again!
•        Resources

 

Published by Western Powered Parachute Association LLC westernppa@comcast.net Doug Maas 360 771-4047Maas0755@comcast.net

Website: http://westernppa.org Newsletter Distribution Group Site: http://sixchuterwest.com 

 

Sign up to receive this monthly bulletin at www.sixchuterwest.com Just fill out the news request form on the front page. 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.

 THE FEW, THE PROUD, ….THE COLD!

 As the cold and wet weather set in during the month of November I came to realize that all powered parachute aviators are not equal.  There seem to be three distinct types in the Pacific Northwest.

•  The most common are those who simply park their aircraft and will wait until the rain stops.  This is usually in the late spring.
•  The second category is those who are posting those messages on our club site about how great the flying is in Arizona and other areas of the winter sun belt!  Honestly I wish I were solidly in this category of snow bird at this point in my life!
•  The third category are the very few, I think proud and I know cold pilots who will fly every chance the weather allows during the winter.  This category includes a very few students who are gritting their teeth and trying to get training done now so that when the Spring indeed comes they will be ready to enjoy the sport.

 The pilots who are watching the weather on nearly a daily basis for the chance of capturing a cool, clear, windless day will be those who enjoy some of the most awesome flights of the year. Here is a great post on the PPC Coalition club website:

 “I love this time of year. A good heavy overcast but the air is still warm and no turbulence. The leaves are changing colors, and the dust is settled so you can see forever it seems.I have never understood why so many people pack their machines up for the winter. I fly year round and tend to still my average days of fight per week up pretty good in the winter months.

Luckily I fly from a bunch of different hay fields around hear. Many of them are cut real short (to avoid having to burn them I think) but more importantly they sit on top of the south Salem hills. If it POURS down rain one day, they are flyable the next.

It has to dip below mid 20′s to keep me down. Anyone else kinda ‘die-hard’ in the area? I am always looking for someone new to fly with. Let me know if you want to join me sometime. I know lots of fun places to go.

Jason
Salem, OR”

 It is also this category of pilot who is in training that I encourage to hang in there and train if and when they can during the winter months.  Beyond the fact that indeed this can result in some of the best flights of the year, the training schedule is much more open than in the spring.  When you read our training report monthly you will continue to see nearly sixty students waiting in line for attention from about five active Certified Flight Instructors.  And inevitably what occurs in the spring is that EVERYONE wants to schedule time, at the same time!  And that occurs when our events begin that makes access to CFIs even more difficult. (See Training Corner on Seeking a Few Good Aviators)

 Those who coordinate closely with instructors and get as much flight training and ground school done during the winter will indeed be the winners in the spring of 2010.

 Scanning the Horizon

 Just a few things that we are working on or at least thinking about for the year ahead:

1. More Discover Powered Parachuting courses will be schedule this coming season.  These are full half day sessions to supplement the brief discovery flight experience.  Our first session sponsored by Central Washington Powered Parachutes in Quincy this season brought 12 prospective pilots to us and resulted in several who signed on to advanced training.
2. Six Chuter Inc. celebrates 20 Years in 2010 and will sponsor the “20^th Annual Memorial Day Rally” this year.  Based on current planning we will be back at twin firs turf farm in May 2010.
3. Another Western Regional PPC Competition is being discussed.  WPPA sponsored and hosted the 2004 western Regionals and it seems time for another.  There is a lot to consider, but we are serious about putting it together.
4. Fractional Ownership Clubs are being discussed among a few business partners.  These would be clubs in three locations around the Pacific N.W., that would allow an entrance point for prospective pilots and owners who aren’t quite ready to step up to owning their own ppc.  We are in very early planning for clubs with two ppcs at each location in the Portland-Vancouver, Arlington and Quincy areas.
5. A full season of rallies is of course being planned by the N.W. Powered Parachute Coalition.  Partly based on this year’s success in Madras, the club is considering adding a Central Oregon rally to the already packed schedule.
6. Sport Pilot Academy continues to evolve with more and more resources and training available on line. http://sportpilotu.com/

 Needless to say, many of us will be busy trying to keep the activity rolling and to plan for yet another banner year in 2010. 

The Training Corner “Seeking A Few Good Aviators (CFIs)..Again!

 This is a reprint from about a year ago.  The reason for updating it and distributing it again is that despite the growth in our instructor ranks we continue to be pressed to keep up with the student load.  I continue to profess that the biggest inhibitor to growth in light sport aviation is simply the lack of instructors. That continues to seem curious to many who think our N.W. network of ppc instructors is one of the largest anywhere.  I encourage anyone with even a passing notion to instruct in powered parachutes, to read the article and give it some consideration.  We’d love to help you get started down this path.

 “Yah right”, is the response I get from most folks when I make the pitch for becoming involved in the world of Powered Parachute flight instruction.  Their natural question is, “if it is such a great job or opportunity why don’t you have enough of you?  Well they caught me there.  So I have pretty much quit sugar coating my recruitment efforts and am frankly more devoted to finding a very few, very good folks and spending considerably more time to make them successful.  Let’s start with a description of the current condition.  Then I will try to honestly provide you with the upside and downside of this glamorous job.  Oops, there I go again!

 THE CURRENT SITUATION

 In the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington), we now have eight FAA Certified Flight Instructors, powered parachute qualified.  Seven are actually in Washington with Perry Robertson, P-3 sports being the sole ppc qualified flight instructor in Oregon.  In addition to our eight instructors we have three FAA designated flight examiners, and one designated instructor flight examiner.  Four of us can even provide private pilot powered parachute level training. If you look around the remainder of the U.S. you will discover that we really seem to be in quite an enviable position, which is better off than most anywhere else. So what’s the problem? Reality is the problem.

 More than half our instructors actually have real jobs (doesn’t currently include me)!  Thus their availability for full time instruction is limited by the reality of making family wages.  And those of us who have more time to exercise our instructor privilege actually have other things happening in our lives that detract from “instructing time”.  I spend a great deal of my time, as an example, managing a couple of businesses on the side and trying to be a good grandpa. Add to that the reality of the weather, the fact our students have lives and schedules too, and the shear numbers of interested parties and you can quickly calculate the basic problem.

 

Another issue in “current situation” is geographic.  We have only one CFI in Eastern Washington and only one in Oregon.  We are all concentrated in Western Washington.  Again, compared to many areas of the United States where instructors are thousands of miles away this shouldn’t be much of an issue to whine about.  But we have set the bar higher for ourselves in the Pacific Northwest.  Unless you have the means to sign into one of our 12-day courses and travel to us, the normal reality of trying to schedule a routine of lessons that will lead you to your sport pilot license is daunting. Thus the problem is an acute shortage of willing, and able instructors to keep up with the demand. On various scales I challenge that this is the fundamental inhibitor of the sport throughout the entire United States.

 WHY NOT?

 Now let me outline the “challenges” of becoming a qualified instructor.  I will warn you ahead of time that this list is not for the faint of heart! All of this is offered to help you “weigh the scales” and decide if this is for you.

 Meeting The Basic Requirements 

Getting to the starting line is the first challenge.  The following table displays the basic requirements.  The average powered parachute pilot probably logs only 50 hours a year.  Several of our best candidates in the northwest are simply trying to get to the starting line. 

If you are applying for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating for . . .	Then you must log at least . .	Which must include at least . . .
g) Powered-parachute category privileges,	(1) 100 hours of flight time as a pilot,	(i) 75 hours of flight time as pilot in command in powered aircraft, (ii) 50 hours of flight time in a powered parachute,
		(iii) 15 hours of cross-country flight time,
		(iv) 5 hours of cross-country flight time in a powered parachute, and
		(v) 15 hours of flight time as pilot in command in a powered parachute that is a light-sport aircraft

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Passing the Tests

 Assuming you build the minimum time required then you get to prepare for the tests.  These include two FAA written tests, the dreaded fundamentals of instruction, and the instructor pilot knowledge tests.  Let me warn you neither is easy and if the sport pilot written intimidated you then these two will certainly challenge you. There is simply too much material to play the memorization game.  You actually need to know all this stuff! And, unlike the powered parachute specific test you experience at the sport pilot level, you are studying for tests that require you to know the information for all categories of aircraft because you can teach in any aircraft you are qualified in, once you have the certificate. And once you are successful in passing (after paying of course) both these written tests then you get to have another FAA flight examiner in your back seat.  Actually in this case you may find the examiner in your front seat playing the role of student.  If you have really prepared and are truly ready the practical test flight portion is really kind of fun.  On the other hand the ground portion of the practical test is rather grueling.  The average time for ground portion of the sport pilot practical test is one and a half hours.  Compare that to the average time for the same portion of the instructor exam of three and a half hours! You REALLY need to know it by the time you get to this level.  The examiner will pass you only when they can sincerely report that you meet the practical test standards and have a personal comfort that you will indeed have the “right stuff” to be an instructor.

 Positioning Yourself to Actually Instruct

 Congratulations you have your certificate!  Now you get to face the operational realities of instructing.  These might include some of the following:

 Liability.  Most of us have been operating without benefit of credible and affordable liability insurance.  That is now available, at a cost of course, yet understanding and managing liability will hover over you so long as you instruct.

Equipment=SLSA. Here is a challenge.  Assuming you were able to meet all the qualifications and pass the tests, you have until January 2010 to purchase and operate a Special Light Sport powered parachute!  That is, if you want to train others in your[1] aircraft.  If you are shopping you will quickly discover that it is unlikely you will find a special light sport powered parachute for under $20,000.  Currently, there are only Three “SLSA” powered parachutes in the Pacific Northwest.  One is in Arlington, WA, the other Quincy, WA and third in the Portland-Vancouver region. And once you have your “SLSA” you will quickly discover that you can’t do anything but preventative maintenance.  Annual inspections are preceded by 100 Hour inspections, all of which need to be done by A & P qualified or persons with specific repairman certificates.

Operations.  Then of course you need to be in actual position to have students show up, study with you and fly.  Access to equipment, airfields and all the training resources is required. My simple learned lesson on this one is that it is a rare individual who will be able to do all this on his or her own.  If you are blessed with owning your own perfect powered parachute airfield, have the equipment, classroom, and access to training resources you are among the rare.

The Work. Being a flight instructor may at first glance be a very appealing goal.  When the reality of the daily schedule hits, it may be entirely different.  Don’t forget that we need to be up most days before the sun is up.  And an “hour” long lesson in a powered parachute usually turns into a four-hour “logistics” exercise due to staging of equipment.  And of course we expect you to do this while actually working for a living elsewhere! More on this later.

 Being Successful.

 This is for me the big deal.  This is the reality that being a great powered parachute pilot does not equate with being even a good powered parachute instructor. My experience is that there are nearly two totally different, yet compatible, skill sets here.  Yes you need to know how to fly a powered parachute.  Yet being a good instructor requires an incredible additional array of skills in communications, people skills and pure teaching ability. I will never encourage you to go through this gauntlet unless you first inventory your knowledge, skills and abilities and can honestly say that it is your love of teaching others to fly that is leading your forward.

 And I want you to really think about what the nature of instructing is.  Imagine strapping yourself in the back seat of the powered parachute and giving up control at several points during your aerial adventure to a person who doesn’t initially have the appropriate experience to do what you are asking them to do!  In many ways I think instructing in powered parachutes is a job for a younger person (Younger than I anyway).  Yet the catch 22 is that by the time most have all the assets required to be an instructor we have exceeded that ideal requirement.

 Keeping It.

 Assuming you made it through the gauntlet congratulations!  Did I forget to mention that unlike your sport pilot certificate that is good for life, your instructor privilege expires every 24 months?  Yes there is an expectation that you are actually going to instruct and that requires proof of ongoing activity, and knowledge.

 WHY?

 Whew!  After all that what incentive is left to step up? Well actually a lot.

 The Sport Needs You.

 If indeed you have the right stuff and have some interest in seeing the sport survive and thrive then one reason to consider stepping up is simply because we need you.  If you ask most of the current instructors in the Pacific Northwest why they bothered their response will likely include, “somebody had to.”  This reason, in and of itself, of course is insufficient.  Nonetheless this needs to be a consideration.

 You Can Make Money.

 I don’t know of any powered parachute flight instructor who is making a living simply by flight instruction.  Nearly all the top-notch ppc instructors I know are retired or have other supplemental businesses or income.  However, if you have realistic goals you can indeed make money through professional flight instruction.  You might pay for your own flying gas, your own flying machine, or actually supplement other income with money from your instructing.

 You Don’t Need to Do It All.

 Being a Certified Flight Instructor does not imply that you need to participate at all levels of flight instruction.  A CFI certificate means that you can actually charge for “discovery flights”, the practice of taking somebody up for a one-time flight.  In the Pacific Northwest these flights usually are $75 for an hour of your time.  All Sport Pilots need a biennial flight review.  This means that you could decide simply to provide the minimum one-hour ground and one hour flight time to pilots who line up at our flight rallies to stay current.  We have a strong team approach to instructing in the Pacific Northwest and having CFIs taking care of these two activities frees time for others to do the more challenging work of soloing new students.  And our network provides you with access to all the resources you need and support to help you get started.

 Building Time and Experience.

 Historically the main reason for instructing in the general aviation arena was to build time and experience that counted towards higher ratings and ultimately to qualify you for a job in commercial aviation.  That isn’t all practical in powered parachuting, but indeed much of your flight time can be used to earn higher pilot ratings.  So if you are working upwards towards a career in general aviation the experience of instructing is valuable.

 You Got to Love It.

 All of the reasons cited so far likely will not outweigh the considerable challenges I have written about.  But one will.  That is a fundamental love of flying and teaching others to fly.  I have often said that I love flying, but my closest second is helping a person realize a lifelong dream of flying and leading them through their first solo flight.  I have seen grown ups nearly in tears with so much joy upon landing after their first solo flight. And back to being successful.  That is very unlikely to happen without this attribute.  No matter how well positioned you are to flight instruct and no matter how well you did on the tests, you are unlikely to become a truly good flight instructor if you don’t just love it!

 ACCELERATED FLIGHT TRAINING

Our 4 day student pilot or ultralight pilot course has been our most popular this year.  We have graduated over a dozen thus far and continue to have folks sign up.  This course is made more popular because we are hosting it with the help of Central Washington Powered Parachutes in Quincy, Washington, as well as at our primary accelerated training location at Arlington.  As the training season nears end of summer we will increasingly be “stretched” to accommodate the training load in this class.  If you have folks who are interested in signing up for the course have them contact Doug at maas0755@comcast.net ASAP. Keep an eye on the training schedule at http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=259

 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 http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=259.  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 at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwpoweredparachutecoalition/

 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 https://1spa.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp  

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

 [1] FAA recently adopted a process to extend your ability to use your ELSA to train others if it has been previously certified for that.

 

The 2010 Western Powered Parachute Training Catalogue is available as a free download. Just click on the link to go to the training page and fill out the form to receive your complimentary copy.

You will find much valuable information in this catalogue including:

-    Why the sport of powered parachuting is considered one of the safest and most economical ways to experience aviation.
-    Why the Western Powered Parachute Association is among the most extensive and professional powered parachute networks anywhere!
-    A description of our complete training programs from discovery flights through instructor training.
-    Information on locations of our training affiliates.

We encourage you to connect directly with the training affiliate nearest you but want you to also feel free to contact us directly with any question you might have regarding our aircraft, or the sport in general.  

We look forward to meeting you and helping you to realize your dream of flying!

Click Here to Download the Training Catalogue.

 Doug Maas, President
Western Powered Parachute Association LLC
Maas0755@comcast.net
360 771-4047

Subscribe to this newsletter by going to www.sixchuterwest.com

and filling out the “new request” form on the front page.

SIX CHUTER NEWS NOVEMBER 2009

• FINAL NOTICE!!  ELSA Airworthiness Certificate Expiration Date
• On the 20^th Anniversary of Six Chuter Inc. An Interview with Dan Bailey, President
• Product News
• OK Who Do We Contact?-Information on the Organization and How to Contact Us
• Stay In The Loop-Stay In Contact
• Other Resources

ALERT:  CHECK THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATES ON YOUR ELSA.  IF YOU HAVE ONE THAT ALLOWED FOR TRAINING IN THE ELSA YOU WILL LIKELY SHOW AN EXPIRATION DATE OF JANUARY 2010 ON THAT CERTIFICATE.  IF YOU LET THAT EXPIRE THERE IS NO PROCEDURE FOR REISSUING AFTER THE DEADLINE.  Here’s a link to an FAA letter emphasizing that if you had training op limits and don’t get a new airworthiness Certificate and op limits before they expire in January.
http://www.aerosports.org/forms/how-to-n-number-an-aircraft/faa-says-change-or-else

A note from Six Chuter Associate Clyde Poser: By the end of next week I should have my new DAR authorization and I will be able to re-issue A/W certificates and ops limits removing the training limitation. You can mail the required documents to me and I will mail them back. I will be charging $20 for this service for my time and the return postage, since I will be sending it back registered for less possibility of loss. Or you can come to my house to get it done for $10. This is much easier than going to the FAA office with its hassle of security.  Of course the FAA is free.

The documents required will be:
1. 8130-6 just like the one you did the first time.
2. letter addressed to Spokane FSDO requesting re-issue to remove the training limitation.
3. Your aircraft logbook so I can certify the change.
4. Your old airworthiness certificate and operating limitations

RULE AVIATION http://www.ruleaviation.com/ Clyde Poser Phone:  253-447-4398 Tech support: tech@rainierultralightengines.com

On The Six Chuter 20^th Anniversary

An Interview with Dan Bailey, President Six Chuter Inc. 

 Dan Tell us about how Six Chuter got started

 In 1991 there were six previous employees laid off from another PPC manufacturing company that banded together to start the new company.  Hence the name Six Chuter Inc.  It was an eclectic group to say the least with a mix of previous office personnel and manufacturing experience.  Three of us had worked together before at an RV manufacturing company in Yakima, but for the most part our PPC experience was limited to the few weeks or at most months we had worked together at the previous company.  Still our enthusiasm was high given that we believed that there was a business climate for that product in front of us, we just had to develop a market that created the demand for our supply side capabilities. 

 As with any new business the first year was slow even though we did capture some folks from our previous employer’s network to help get us started.  But that didn’t prevent the first defections that would come that very first summer when three of the original six left the company to find full time “paying” jobs.  It was tough and there were many times we considered closing shop, but somehow the remaining three of us survived that winter and made it into 1992.  Even still, new sales were sporadic at best, but between those and parts sales we somehow survived until July of that year when we received an order for three units from a gentleman in Ohio.  I can’t say for sure what really caused a difference but from that point on our sales began to increase and we never had to look back again. 

Tell us about the “evolution” of the sport, from your perspective

From the first days of my involvement there were times when I wasn’t sure exactly where we belonged or even if we did belong in any segment of aviation.  Certainly the hierarchy of general aviation didn’t want anything to do with us; and the ultra light world which at that time was a pretty strong entity in its own right, only seemed to allow us privilege of participation if and when we paid for advertising in a magazine or booth space at an air show.  Even then we were held in pretty low accord.  By the middle to end of the 1990′s the PPC manufacturers had grown to three or four companies and I can’t say we were ever on the same page or that there was any real unity between us. But in 1997 we had a very crucial meeting in Chicago that in my mind shaped our entire destiny.  As a group we basically laid out the ground work for rule change and acceptance for PPC’s that would finally come to fruition in 2004.   

I know that there is a huge faction of pilots that take exception to these new rules, but I honestly believe that our sport would not have survived given the direction it was going by 2004.  So for me our total existence depended on some of us realizing that acceptance required change.  That change would move us closer to GA rules as opposed to demanding a separate set of rules just for our type product.   

In one sense the latter did happen with our acceptance into the FAR’s, but within the context of working with the FAA to insure our manufacturers, instructors and pilots were actually credentialed.  Even dating back to the inception of the Basic Flight Instructor rules of the 1990′s, most people don’t understand that because of better instruction, there were fewer accidents and deaths.  We now have the best trained pilots ever which is evident to me in fewer parts sales due to accidents. Certainly there has been an evolution in the design of PPC’s over the last twenty years and I don’t want to discount the importance of that.  But to me the real evolution has occurred with our acceptance as an aircraft.  As we move forward all of those ideas that we considered in 1991 that might ultimately move more potential pilots towards our sport can now happen in this new environment that accepts our pilots, our instructors and our product without limiting our market.  In my mind that is evolution.  

Talk to us about your design philosophy.  What makes Six Chuter distinctive?

Pretty simple.  Light is right.  I spent twenty plus years in RV manufacturing before getting involved in sport aviation manufacturing.  During that time we survived two different oil/gas embargo’s largely by building a quality product but for sure about utilizing designs that were efficient and light weight.  

 

Over the years I have always felt the same about our product and to this day I believe that saving a pound in aircraft weight could save someone’s life or limb.  Less weight to me means better performance “when you need it most.”  I have never accepted that you should design a unit to survive a rollover.  As I’ve said for years, Boeing doesn’t build a 747 to rollover, neither will we.  So, when you look at the Legend design we offer now it is a culmination of design changes over 20 years that are directly pointed at providing a strong undercarriage in a lightweight overall airframe.  Could it be lighter?  Probably and I would likely move that direction except for perceived market ideologies that believe an extra tube here and there is actually safer. 

What is in store for Six Chuter models, for Six Chuter Inc. and for Dan Bailey?

 Since the new rule changes in 2004 coupled with the down market and cost of R & D, you will only see minor changes in the current product line in the coming 2010 model year.  We do plan to finalize our Rotax 912 unit this winter which will be added to the product line as the Legend Paragon.  In addition we will mothball the XT side by side model as most instructors prefer the tandem with dual controls. 

 Beyond that we will continue to finalize and clean up manuals and our manufacturing process.  The changes we made this year which basically downsized my participation in the manufacturing process have largely been proven successful although we’ve only had a limited number of units move through the system.  But, in the long run I think we have positioned ourselves network wide to handle the future nicely.  More sales are always good, but in reality this time has been used to restructure ourselves for the future.  I’m certainly not ready to retire but there is a reality to the process that dictates we prepare for that eventuality.  Until then getting everyone else up to speed makes sense and that’s what we’re doing. 2009 has been a tough year for everyone and virtually every business.  But, as in all the previous years we survived and in some ways grew stronger.  I look forward to 2010 and I’m hopeful that our economy will begin to turn around and with it ours and everyone else’s fortunes.  I think if you look at the numbers of new pilots and the numbers of potential new pilots, even in a down economy those numbers are pretty impressive in the markets that are active. The key as always will be to revitalize those dormant markets and get more folks interested in flying again. 

PRODUCT NEWS

• The Legend XL has recently been upgraded with a full dual control option.  This installation includes dual throttle, dual ground steering and dual canopy steering.  Also included is an instructor “magneto kill” switch that allows a rear seat instructor to shut down the engine. This aircraft has quickly gained popularity among the CFI crowd with four SLSA’s with dual controls delivered already this year.
• The Legend XL has added an upper C.G. brace.  The XL is one of the few new tandem PPCs on the market today without overhead frontal bars.  This more open air flying is popular with many pilots. The additional upper brace adds strength to the outrigger system. XLs with frontal bars now have a “side brace” that also improves the look and increases the strength of the system.  Either modification is available to current Legend Owners by calling Rolando Santiago, Parts and Tech Support, 360 904-8766
  

  New Upper Outrigger Brace on Legend XL

   

   

The 2010 Six Chuter Catalogue will be available this week.  You will be able to sign into http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=8 and fill out the information form to receive a free downloadable issue.

OK, SO WHO DO WE CONTACT?

You don’t need to understand all the reasoning and strategy for the Six Chuter transition.  So let’s keep it simple.  If you need ANYTHING from Six Chuter (parts, pricing, new order, technical support) West of longitude 98 call ROLANDO SANTIAGO 360 904-8766.  Anything East of 98 Degrees call JOE FENSTERMACHER (610) 273-0220  Business Opportunities and Dealer support, Doug Maas maas0755@comcast.net

STAY IN THE LOOP

You will find no other manufacturer who supports our prospective and current customers to the extent that Six Chuter Inc. does.  First…WE ANSWER THE PHONE! Next we manage extensive communication networks to insure that you get constant support.  Not just rhetoric, but the right kind of support to keep you flying….”safe and for a lifetime”.

Six Chuter Inc. Website: www.sixchuter.com

Six Chuter West Website: www.sixchuterwest.com

Six Chuter East Website: www.quakerstatepoweredparachutes.com

Six Chuter Owners: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sixchuterowners/

Six Chuter Representatives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SIXCHUTERDEALERS/

Western Powered Parachute Association LLC (Training): www.westernppa.org

Six Chuter Business Opportunities: Doug Maas maas0755@comcast.net

Sport Pilot Academy (Training Affiliate): www.sportpilotacademy.com  

Six Chuter Full Service Flight Centers:

Ft. Vancouver Aerosports LLC	Portland Or.Vancouver, WA	360 904-8766	http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=294
Seattle Powerchutes	Arlington, WA	425 739-0111	www.seatttlepowerchutes.com
Central Washington Powered Parachutes	Wenatchee, WA	509 885-8444	http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=296
Bonneville Skybase	Salt Lake City, UT	801 816-0472801 278-4566	www.bonnevilleskybase.com
Scratch Gravel Aviation LLC	Helena, Mt.	406 458-6420	www.scratchgravelaviationllc.com
Wiley-Wales Powerchutes LLC	Pleasant View, CO	970 562-3096	www.wileywales.com
Quaker State Powered Parachutes	Honey Brook, PA	610 273-0220	www.quakerstatepoweredparachutes.com
Connelly LSA Services	Sturgeon Bay, WI	920 743-9027

 

OTHER RESOURCES

• Subscribe to the Powered Parachuter This is a new Pacific N.W. journal style publication that will keep you tuned into the sport and connect with others. The publication can be ordered in print form or a less expensive and very convenient monthly download. https://1spa.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=1&i=13&navicat=13

 

 

• 2010 Western Powered Parachute Association Catalogue Available The updated catalogue of the Western Powered Parachute Association LLC is available as a free download.  Just go to http://sixchuterwest.com/?page_id=259 and fill out the download form.  The catalogue is packed with information about sport pilot and training resources.

 

 

 

This monthly bulletin is designed for instructors and students affiliated with the Western Powered Parachute Association LLC.

If you wish to be removed from the distribution list, email Doug at maas0755@comcast.net

CONGRATULATIONS!

We had a flurry of activity towards regular season end that resulted in four more folks successfully passing their sport pilot practical test.  Hans Behrens gained the distinction of being the 100^th person who completed a practical or proficiency test in our network, since the adoption of Sport Pilot.

 

Hans Behrens	Bend, Oregon	Lersbak	Sport Pilot	10/10/2009
Bob Paysse	Graveview, WA	Maas	Sport Pilot PPCL	10/19/2009
Bob Coffland	Vancouver, WA	Maas	Sport Pilot PPCL	10/20/2009
Brad Moore	Seattle, WA	Lersbak	Sport Pilot PPCL	11/4/2009

 THE TRAINING SEASON

For many the month of October and November signals the end of the regular flying season.  The monsoon usually sets in this time of the year west of the cascades and the eastern side just gets darned cold.  Nonetheless there are a hearty few who will hang in there to enjoy some of the best flights of the year and get a real head start on their training, through the winter.  Larry Miner out of Chehalis just started his training course this past month, as an example.  This is a smart thing to do.  When you look at our training load per instructor you can easily see what happens in the Spring.  That is EVERYONE wants training attention at the same time.  And that is usually at the time that events start and getting the attention of instructors becomes increasingly difficult.  Being successful with training in the winter months requires patience and flexibility with schedules.  But it can pay off.  We encourage you to stay closely connected with your instructor now and not let your training come to a halt.

 STUDY UP

 This is also an excellent time of the year to “read up” and “study up”.  If you have not taken your sport pilot written test yet you can go to www.sportpilotu.com and sign up for on line ground school.  Mike Lersbak has started publication of The Powered Parachuter.  Subscribing to this training oriented monthly magazine is another good way to keep your mind sharp during any part of the season.  You can go to https://1spa.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=1&i=13&navicat=13 for a variety of subscription options.

 ON THE HORIZON

 A number of us have begun discussions and early planning of “fractional ownership” clubs in three to four locations around the region including Portland-Vancouver, Quincy, Arlington and Bend.  These clubs would divide the ownership of one or more ppcs to make it more affordable and to allow owners to be trained in their “own” ELSA.  And these clubs would allow a prospective pilot to get into the sport for a “fraction” of what it would cost them to own their own ppc by themselves. We should have an initial plan and prospectus out for these clubs before the end of the year. If you might be interested in joining and buying into one of these clubs please email me at maas0755@comcast.net so I can keep you “in the loop”.

 Mike Bird and Doug Maas will be “resettling” their Vancouver operation into Groves Field near Camas, Washington.  The more recent location of Brush Prairie has just not worked out well for training purposes and the Camas folks, at least to this point, have been wonderful in accomodating powered parachutes and our operation.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

This is the latest training data I have for instructors and students.

 Instructors!

1. I am missing contact emails for many of your students.  Please forward me current email addresses for the students you have listed so that we can keep them informed.
2. Please take the time (things are slow so no excuses!)…to send me edits and updates to your student list.  Continuing to contribute to the effort helps us to maintain accurate data on our training load and to help each other in the process

Students

1.  Please check our listing for you to insure that your status is correct.  If it is not, email me at maas0755@comcast.net
2. Otherwise, stay in direct contact with your listed instructor for continued scheduling
3. If for some reason your circumstance has changed and you require a different instructor, please contact me to discuss.

 

WESTERN POWERED PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION
Student Status Report		11/7/2009
ACTIVE STUDENTS ULTRALIGHTS/SPORT PILOT
STUDENT	COURSE	INSTRUCTOR	STATUS	COMMENT
Updated	11/7/2009		ACTIVE
Terry Sterpa	Discovery	Bird	Active	Pending Schedule
Michael Pfeifle	Sport Pilot	Bird	Active	Mock Practical
Charlie Schonenberger	Sport Pilot	Brandon	Active	In Progress
Robert Kotcher	UL Pilot	Brandon	Active	In Progress
John Little	Discovery	Brandon	Active	Pending Schedule
Mel Creamer	Sport Pilot	Grubby	Active	In Progress
Andy Meyer	Sport Pilot	Gutierrez	Active	In Progress
Wayne Custer	Sport Pilot	Gutierrez	Active	Pending Schedule
Chad Norberg	Sport Pilot	Hansen	Active	In progress
Ron James	Sport Pilot	Hansen	Active	In progress
Brian Grant	Sport Pilot	Lersback	Active	In progress
Charlie Brocksmith	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Pending Reschedule
Dane Stetner	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Sept, Twin Firs
Don Berg	PPCL Add On	Lersbak	Active	Pending Schedule
Hal Hawley	Solo	Lersbak	Active	In Progress
Jeff Burton	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Clyde transfer
Jim Selman	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Grubby Referral for 12 day
Kathy Moll	Solo	Lersbak	Active	In progress
Kelly Field	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	June 18-21 Twin Firs
Kevin Cox	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Pending Schedule
Kyle Cox	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Pending Schedule
Raymond Cody	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	Pending Schedule
Ron Clark	Solo	Lersbak	Active	Sept, Twin Firs
Chuck Moore	Solo	Lersbak	Active	Complete
Spud Anderson	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	In Progress
Mick Gauthier	Sport Pilot	Lersbak	Active	In Progress
Brian Gilligan	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Pending Schedule
Joe Carlton	Discovery	Maas	ACTIVE	Pending Schedule
Joe Ehm	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Pending Mock and Endorsements
Ken Stribling	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Pending Schedule
Larry Miner	Solo	Maas	Active	Pending Schedule
Lynn Pettit	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Pending Cross Country
Ramon Santiago	Ultralight	Maas	Active	Pending Schedule
Tim Vedder	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Cross Country
Tom Connelly	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Cross Country
Wes Truax	Sport Pilot	Maas	Active	Pending Cross Country
Craig Dawson	Ultralight	Robertson	Active	In Progress
Don Wagner	Ultralight	Robertson	Active	In Progress
Bill Ruby	Sport Pilot	Robertson	Active	In Progress
Fritz	Sport Pilot	Robertson	Active	In Progress

TESTING

This is our “short list” of students we have “in the que” for testing.  Please provide me with updates as necessary

 

Sport Pilot Testing	11/7/2009
NAME	LOCATION	PPC RATING	FAA RATING	SCHEDULE
Proficiency Checks	PENDING
Jerry Siegel	Bend Oregon		Private Pilot	To be Assigned
Sport Practical Checks	PENDING		Status	Instructor/Examiner
Scott Weldy	Sport Pilot		Pending Practical	Lersbak

Instructors…if you have a student or a number of students that you are working with to prepare for the practical test, please let us know your plans.  We’d like to get blocks of time on the calendar and locations tied down, particularly for multiple tests.

 Doug Maas
maas0755@comcast.net  
360 771-4047

The Pacific N.W. PPC Classifieds have been updated for November 2009.  Despite the weather this time of the year, or in some cases because of it, this can be the best time ever to purchase and get involved. 

Why?  Many owners who decide to sell their ppc (either to upgrade or because they are moving on from the sport) hesitate to list their ppc until the flying season is all but over for the year.  Now they are anxious to move it and will often negotiate more than they would during the peak season.

Here is an example:  Mike Lockling, Central Washington Powered Parachutes has put his 582 equipped single seat Legend “rocketship” on the market.  This is a unique and high performing ppc that is in immaculate condition and priced thousands of dollars under what a comprable model would cost today:

And despite the weather, for those who are a bit more tolerant of the weather this can be the easiest time to capture the attention and support of our flight instructors.  If you work on your training during the winter you will likely be ready to fly and participate in events come springtime when many others are just getting started.

 

The manufacturer is often in more of a mood to price year end inventory at favorable pricing or to make a special deal on a new or updated model in 2010.  This is the case with Six Chuter West.

Six Chuter West carries the largest inventory of new and used ppcs anywhere!  And we are affiliated with the Western Powered Parachute Association.  This translates to our ability to offer package deals that include aircraft, communications gear, trailers and flight instruction.  Packaging a “full meal deal” is the best way to save $ on getting started in the sport.

When you buy a powered parachute or “full meal deal” within the Pacific N.W. network you can also be assured that you are buying an aircraft with a known history and one that will be fully supported by out network.  We only list aircraft where we know the owners, and the maintenance and repair history.

If you are interested in listing your powered parachute for sale, contact Doug at maas0755@comcast.net.  Likewise, contact us if you don’t see exactly what you are looking for in our classifieds.  Our inventory changes almost weekly and if we know what you are looking for we will find it for you.