Comme annoncé dans ULMiste 3, voici le texte intégral en version originale de l'interview de Roy Beisswenger, du comité directeur de l'USUA.

ULMiste: For the fifth anniversary of LSA, what could you say about how is has influenced ultralight aircraft in the US? How many two seaters pilots did pass their LSA licence? How many did not? Did these stop flying? Do they only fly single seaters? How many two seat aircraft do not apply with the LSA rules and what did they become?

R.B.: Overall, LSA and Sport Pilot licensing has really hurt the ultralight industry. Some of that was expected since many ‘ultralights’ were two-seat machines which were operated under exemptions to the rules. Those were all to become LSA’s and their pilots Sport Pilots. While many pilots made the transition, many did not. Many of the pilots (who chose not to transition) continue to fly illegally while others gave up two-seat flight because of the rule changes.

One of the big challenges in the industry has been flight instruction. While only a small percentage of the ultralight flight instructors made the transition to Sport Pilot, even fewer of them are continuing to instruct. That is because the FAA is requiring all flight instructors to purchase the newer Special Light Sport Aircraft instead of using their older, transitioned aircraft. Most instructors here do not make much money instructing and are unable to justify the purchase of new equipment. The loss of active instructors is having a dramatic impact on people getting involved in flying both LSA’s and ultralights.

One of the bright spots is the foot-launch powered paragliding sport. Since foot-launch does not fall under Sport Pilot, the instructors and students are growing in number.

You asked, “How many two seaters pilots did pass their LSA licence? How many did not? Did these stop flying? Do they only fly single seaters? How many two seat aircraft do not apply with the LSA rules and what have they became?”

As of March of this year, 2147 pilots became Sport Pilots. 1065 received airplane ratings, 813 for powered parachute, 344 for trike, and 20 for gyro. There are fewer numbers for gliders and sea ratings for the different categories and of course some pilots received more than one rating.

There are 382 Sport Pilot certified flight instructors (CFI’s). 139 for airplane, 110 for weight shift control trikes, and 100 for powered parachutes. Again, there were smaller numbers for gliders, gyroplanes, and sea ratings as well as instructors becoming rated in more than one category.

That leaves out a lot of pilots. But neither ultralights nor their pilots are easy to count. That is because there has never been a requirement in the US for true ultralight pilot or aircraft registration. Anecdotally, I know that many did exactly what you suggest. Some are illegal, some stopped flying and some changed to single-seaters. A lot of aircraft didn’t make the switch either. The aircraft are either flown illegally or are simply grounded. It has been a real waste since the FAA didn’t leave an avenue for those older aircraft to be made legal in the future.

ULMiste: I have heard about 20 000 USUA members before LSA came in, could you please confirm or not? Other question: 100% of european aviation magazines say that LSA is THE future and that all of us should go to there. Beside these facts you have mentionned, what could you answer them? Regarding to ultralight flying?

R.B.: You (P-J) have some Australian roots. I have some Australian friends in the business and when they found out we were considering Sport Pilot, they said, “Don’t do it!” Of course it wasn’t up to me....

I don’t know how many USUA members there were before LSA since that was well before I became a member of the Board of Directors. I’ll check with the more seasoned board members.

I think that LSA has been a boon to private pilots in the US who wanted to fly without getting a regular medical. That part has worked and has gotten a lot of those people flying. But for the people in the ultralight world, it has been something of a disaster with an exodus of pilots, manufacturers and instructors from the sport. Many of those may be gone forever and even if Sport Pilot went away, it would take years to rebuild to levels of activity we enjoyed before Sport Pilot.