Re: [OuttaBounZ] Powered Parachute
That sucks but it could wind up getting really interesting. Interesting in the bad sort of way. I wonder where the FAA will fall on this. Detales as to the gear, and status of the aircraft would be appreceated. TSO'd N#'d etc. I'm trying to recall another fatality from an ultralight or light sport and nothing comes to mind. I don't want to make lite of this but it could be a president setter.
Thoughts...
"Ultralights", part 103, were never really treated as aircraft. I think they structured the restrictions to limit there safety, utility, and popularity in hopes that they would go away.
Part 103 is is spacificly barred from any comercial use. They opperated there two seat "trainers" under a waver which is no longer avaloble. All passenger flights like early tandoms were suposed to be training flights "lessens". Now all trainers must be N#'d as light sport aircraft.
Light Sport is supposed to be non comercial as well. I think flight instruction is the only comercial use allowed and I'm not sure how that works, Waver?
Back when ultralights were first big the question of skydiving came up. Although it is not addressed spicifically in part 103 there was a ruleing on it, or so I've been told, that it was declared a fundomentally comercial activity and skydiving was spicifically forbiden from ultralights. I wonder where this stands with light sport?
Ultralights not being aircraft seemed to be pretty much with out rules. You could do any thing you wanted on them. Modify them. Any one could work on them. No standards, etc. You didn't need to be a rigger to pack any of the parachutes. Hang glider reserve, para glider, and although I've never messed with them the balistic recovery systems, to the best of my knowlage were all jungle rules. As far as I know a PEP caried in a part 103 ultralight would be the same. What's the story in a Light Sport? It's N#'d I'd say it's an aircraft with all that that intailes. So this was a "Skydive" in leagle sence? With all that that implies, notums, comunications, all the stuff in part 91, and 105. I'm assuming that all applies to Light Sport? Does Light Sport fall under the part 91 regs? I'm wondering how many FAR's you could bust doing this?
Some of the things I've said here as statements. Please don't take it that way. Please treat them all as questions. This is my imperfect understanding I'm hopeing some one who has kept better tabs on it will correct me. I'm just trying to promote conversation.
Lee