One of the most exciting developments in aviation is FAA's coming Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule. This innovative rulemaking will permit two-place aircraft weighing up to 1,232 pounds (or possibly somewhat more when the rule is finalized) to fly cross country at 132 mph using a pilot's license that can be obtained with just 20 hours of instruction and requires no medical examination. Many pilots are anticipating this rule which EAA has been instrumental in driving forward.

During the summer of 2003, BRS successfully completed a series of ultimate load drop tests that prove the company's new parachute system is up to the job… and then some. Made with the higher speed European market in mind-where BRS sells many systems-the BRS-1350 has the capacity to save an aircraft with a gross weight of 1,350 pounds (615 kg). The Kevlar-reinforced canopy can also cope with speeds up to 185 mph (300 km/h).

"We wanted to be able to serve the U.S. market and the European market simultaneously," said BRS president and CEO, Mark Thomas. "We are aware European airframe makers are watching Light Sport Aircraft closely and hope to model coming regulations on the U.S. initiative." The new BRS-1350 can accommodate all the weight and speed anticipated from FAA's new rule yet can meet the needs of faster aircraft in Europe.

As the worldwide leader in whole-aircraft parachute systems intended to rescue aircraft in trouble along with their pilots and occupants, BRS has played a close role in development of the Light Sport Aircraft rule. Two BRS employees, Dan Johnson and Gregg Ellsworth, are on the standards-writing committee charged with creating rules of certification for parachutes for these airplanes. Since many of these aircraft will evolve from ultralights and light kit-builts where parachutes are widely accepted (50% of all such aircraft are thought to be so equipped in the U.S.), it is logical that many Light Sport Aircraft owners will want parachutes as well.

Since the early 1980s BRS has delivered over 18,000 parachute systems to aircraft owners around the world including FAA-certified production models like the Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Cirrus SR20 and Cirrus SR22, and hundreds of non-certified recreational aircraft. Actual documented uses of these systems are credited with saving the lives of 157 persons through the end of July 2003. BRS is a publicly-traded company based in South St. Paul, Minnesota.

FMI: www.brsparachutes.com