ASC History

AERO SPORTS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING COMMUNITY
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ULTRLIGHT COMMUNITY
 
231 SW Bonanza Glen phone 269-781-4021
Lake City, FL 32025, USA fax 269-781-7400
 
 
 
 
AERO SPORTS CONNECTION -  ORGANIZATION HISTORY
 
 
Aero Sports Connection, Inc. (ASC) was designed to provide an innovative, all-inclusive, and flexible support structure to serve the unique needs of light sport aviation. The support structure of ASC provides:
 
  • Exemption Management.
  • Vehicle Registration Management.
  • Pilot Registration.
  • Competition Recording.
  • National Magazine.
  • Membership Renewal.
  • Wing Structure with as few as 25 members to provide national organization status
to meet the individual vehicle types’ and areas’ unique needs.
  • Management Services, and more.
 
ASC has been the largest of all training exemptions with over: *
 
  • 2700 Instructors
    • 1340 Powered Parachute.
    • 516 Fixed Wing.
    • 330 Trike.
    • 45 Powered Paraglider.
    • 18 Gyro.
    • 2 Powered Lighter-than-Air.
  • 2.5 Million Hours of Flight Experience including 250,000 hours of flight training
time and 900,000 hours of Ultralight.
 
ASC’s reputation for responsible operation under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Exemption is exemplary. The FAA often references ASC’s system as “very effective and responsible.”
 
The attached chronology highlights ASC’s contribution to the light sport aviation community.
 
 
*) as an example the figures from year 2004
AERO SPORTS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING COMMUNITY
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ULTRLIGHT COMMUNITY
 
231 SW Bonanza Glen phone 269-781-4021
Lake City, FL 32025, USA fax 269-781-7400
 
 
ASC Chronology Highlights (1)
 
 
August 1994
 
  • Aero Sports Connection, Inc. (ASC) established to serve all forms of light aviation
(e.g., ultralights, powered parachutes, powered paragliders, trikes, gyros, powered
lighter-than-air.)
  • ASC formed and incorporated to serve the community abandoned by other
organizations.
  • ASC maintains National Ranking Points for distributed competition standings
comparison.
  • ASC held the nations largest ultralight competition.
 
1995
 
  • ASC’s first Nationals is the largest in Ultralight History and held at the site of the
first ever ultralight competition - Marshall, Michigan.
  • ASC opens Club Cross Country Competition System.
  • ASC receives FAA Exemption No. 6080 for two-place trainers (the first of over
11 FAA exemptions to support training) This exemption is designed to apply to
all light aviation trainers. Limits of the exemption are:
  •  
    • 496 lb. Empty Weight.
    • 10 Gals. Fuel.
    • 35 Knots Stall Speed.
    • 75 Knots Maximum Straight Level Full Power Speed.
 
1996
 
  • ASC helps frame and develop Sport Pilot proposal from outside the Aviation
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC.)
  • Concepts submitted by ASC become the basis for FAA response to ARAC.
  • ASC Nationals expands to 3 days on Labor Day Weekend, grows as the only free
event of its kind.
 
1997
 
  • Teaming Agreement signed with Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to adapt
ASC’s Basic Flight Instructor (BFI) Program to non-Certified Flight Instructors
(non-CFI’s).
  • ASC develops Peer Review System, now used as a model for EAA efforts.
  • ASC invited to participate in the ARAC and aid in further development of Sport
Pilot Rule.
  • ASC completes research to verify that the accepted training requirements are
appropriate.
  • ASC Nationals includes Powered Parachutes as a class of competition.
 
AERO SPORTS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING COMMUNITY
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ULTRLIGHT COMMUNITY
 
231 SW Bonanza Glen phone 269-781-4021
Lake City, FL 32025, USA fax 269-781-7400
 
 
ASC Chronology Highlights (2)
 
 
1998
 
  • ASC Nationals includes Powered Para Gliders, and flies off six simultaneous
runways at Marshall, Michigan .
  • EAA Cooperative Teaming Agreement adapted to help EAA and continue close
interaction.
  • ARAC results to FAA to recommend change that becomes Sport Pilot.
  • ASC Nationals expanded to 4 days.
 
1999
 
  • ASC fosters a new magazine, Aero Connections, to promote communication with
membership.
  • ASC Nationals includes skydivers and glider towing, in a mixed pattern display,
used by FAA as an example of outstanding no-radio operations.
 
2000
 
  • ASC reinvents the Event Support Kit to support first-time events with useful and
instructive materials and supplies.
  • ASC Nationals and grass-roots support expands with ASC personnel on-site at
over 30 events nationwide.
  • ASC receives FAA Exemption No. 7390 for transitional training in experimental
aircraft.
 
2001
 
  • ASC becomes instrumental in helping the FAA develop transition plans, concepts
and ancillary rules for Sport Pilot to work in a proper format.
  • ASC Nationals, last year at Marshall site, sees membership vote on site relocation
  • Fixed Wing and Powered Parachute Champions crowned.
 
2002
 
  • Jim Stephenson, President and CEO of ASC chairs Powered Parachute Light
Sport Aircraft Committee for ASTM International Consensus Standards
  • ASC expands Competition Event Support Kits with more value and support. To
date, over 30 organizers have registered for these kits totalling more than $12,000
in direct support.
  • ASC Nationals at Three Rivers, Michigan is largest ever, with over 35 vendors,
15,000 guests and 400 planes.
 
AERO SPORTS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING COMMUNITY
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ULTRLIGHT COMMUNITY
 
231 SW Bonanza Glen phone 269-781-4021
Lake City, FL 32025, USA fax 269-781-7400
 
 
ASC Chronology Highlights (3)
 
 
2003
 
  • Powered Parachute Light Sport Aircraft Committee led by ASC is the first ASTM
International Committee to complete the release of all five Consensus Standards
Specifications, four of which are being considered to possibly cross types.
  • ASC leads in development of research exemption concepts for FAR Part 103.
 
2004
 
  • LTA Light Sport Aircraft Committee lead by ASC is the second ASTM
International Committee to complete the release of all five Consensus Standards Specifications.
  • ASC contributes to Sport Pilot reviews and support documents.
 
2005
 
  • Light Sport Aircraft Committee of ASTM International work to complete the
standards for all types. ASC is a leader in definition and support.
  • ASC leads in development of research exemption concepts for FAR Part 103.
  • Jim Stephenson given the ASTM Leadership award, the first given to F37 Light-
Sport Aircraft.
  • Sport Pilot released in September 2005.
  • ASC established ‘ASC Europe Wing’ in November 2005.
 
2006
 
  • Jim Stephenson given the ASTM award for Leadership.
  • ASC authorized to present Light-Sport Repairmen Inspection classes and
Certificates.
 
2007
 
  • ASC comments to FAA proposed changes to Sport Pilot, opposing some.
 
2008
 
  • ASC completes the largest training exemption in the US.
  • ASC is awarded 2nd place in the annual Advantage Awards for “Light Sport
Aviation Takes Flight on ASTM Internal Standards”.
  • ASC receives PPG/PG dual training exemption.
AERO SPORTS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING COMMUNITY
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ULTRLIGHT COMMUNITY
 
231 SW Bonanza Glen phone 269-781-4021
Lake City, FL 32025, USA fax 269-781-7400
 
 
ASC Chronology Highlights (4)
 
 
2009
 
  • ASC files exemption requests for three key areas of Sport Pilot transition.
  • May 2009: AERO CONNECTIONS is now published as Emagazine over ASC web
 
2010
 
  • FAA changes to Sport Pilot drop 7 of 22, remainder are generally in line with ASC
recommendations.
  • ASC will meets the need of the times and offers a new ASC license and rating
card, in credit card-sized - initiated by ASC Europe Wing and worked out in 2009.
  • 30th Anniversary of Ultralight aviation held in April at Sun n' Fun..
 
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last edit (by ASC President Jim Stephenson): 08-17-10

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