When asking new companies to join LAMA, the first question asked is, “What does a manufacturer’s association do for me. To answer, we list functions that illustrate the value LAMA brings to the LSA community.

INDUSTRY—LAMA directly assists manufacturers
• Third-party oversight program leading to LAMA compliance audits.
• Market data (offered to government, industry, media, & public).
• Industry communications (LAMA Newsletter with LAMA-EU Newsletter in planning).
• Industry-wide marketing (much work remains to communicate the methods of industry consensus standards).
• Service to ASTM (the organization helping LSA producers devise and maintain the standards used to certify light aircraft).
• Interaction with member organizations on behalf of LSA industry (AOPA, IAOPA, EAA, GAMA, national aeroclubs).
• Hosting the annual LAMA dinner at Sebring (the largest gathering of LSA professionals in the world. 300+ attend).

GOVERNMENT—LAMA represents the industry to global governments
• Cooperate with USA organizations to provide LSA industry advocacy.
• Separate advocacy for European LAMA members interacting with EASA and national CAAs (under the name of the newly formed LAMA-EU).
• Represent the LSA industry at meetings with FAA, NTSB, EASA and national CAAs.
• Communicating with FAA, NTSB, EASA, national CAAs (they do not know the LSA industry like LAMA does).

MEDIA—LAMA helps reporters understand light-sport aircraft.
• Represent LSA industry to media (including frequent interviews for media coverage).
• Act as spokesman for LSA industry (media often prefers unbiased organizations to competing companies).
• Assist media to understand LSA concept and to locate industry participants.

CONSUMER—connecting pilots to new names and programs
• Showcase of industry products at LSA Malls and other events (concentrated LSA Malls are very popular with visitors).
• LAMA label (easy-to-understand proof of compliance to ASTM standards).
• Support for airshows featuring LSA aircraft (several are operating in the USA; they regularly seek LAMA support).

LAMA—is unique among organizations
• LAMA is very efficient with money, operating with a small budget and staff with dedicated, motivated volunteers.
• LAMA is the only organization 100% focused on the light aircraft industry.
• LAMA works with the industry on the front lines. LAMA knows this industry better than any other organization.
• LAMA has a strong team of professionals to manage the enterprise and to achieve compliance auditing.
• LAMA is well recognized in the USA, and LAMA-EU will bring similar recognition in Europe.
• LAMA has been active since 1982.

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FAA — Q & A
From You, to FAA, then Shown to All

FAA is now ready to receive emails from LAMA members. At a meeting among producers at Sebring several questions arose from industry figures. In the room FAA had brought key people from several departments that interact with Light-Sport Aircraft. At the bottom of this newsletter, we will provide a chart of contacts inside FAA and which department they represent.

As industry persons asked questions, different FAA departments were asked to respond. In most cases, they needed to do extra investigation to answer. As FAA requested email inquiries and offered to provide answers, it become clear that LAMA could be a much bigger help. Instead of every mail being one-to-one, why not present all questions along with FAA’s answer to every LAMA member?

FAA immediately agreed. This could save them time and do a much better job of communication. Here’s how this will work:

1) You write questions in an email and forward your question directly to Tom Gunnarson of FAA’s LSA office. Email Tom at this address: thomas.gunnarson@faa.gov

2) Tom will determine which department of FAA is best able to answer the question.

3) Tom has also offered to monitor these exchanges to be sure a response gets back to the person asking.

4)  In doing this duty, Tom will send all questions and answers to LAMA and we will present these exchanges in our Newsletter and on our website, www.LAMA.bz.

We know you have questions you always wanted to ask. We know it can be very challenging to get to the proper authority inside FAA (they have tens of thousands of employees!). So ask your questions — send them to Tom Gunnarson (thomas.gunnarson@faa.gov).

Then, via your LAMA Newsletter or the LAMA.bz website, you can read all the questions and answers. Perhaps you’ll find an answer for a question you never thought to ask. Perhaps you’ll find support — from FAA or from inside industry — for a problem you posed in the form of a question.

When we met at Sebring, everyone in the room felt this exchange idea was a winner. So, ask away and be a winner yourself.

Back to Top

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Next Up:  AirVenture 2010

The annual Oshkosh, Wisconsin begins on Monday July 26 and runs through Sunday August 1, 2010. Find your LAMA team at the LSA Mall along with up to 20 of the top-selling Light-Sport Aircraft in the USA.

The LSA Mall is located just 500 paces northeast from the main public entrance up a newly paved road. As last year, LAMA’s AirVenture spaces are 33-34-35-36-37.

If your company wants to be seen in the LSA Mall that has proven to be a hit with tens of thousands of visitors, contact us soon. Spaces are $450 per airplane to help defray LAMA’s cost to host this area. We have a few companies already signed up and paid. Contact LAMA at Randee@LAMA.bz or call 651-226-1825.

Every LSA Mall has been a sell-out so we encourage you to act soon to get one of the best locations. As with each LSA Mall, the first to pay gets first choice on which spot they prefer. We think this is fairest way to allocate these prized yet limited locations. (NOTE:  You must have a paid commercial exhibit location somewhere else on AirVenture in order to enter the LSA Mall.)

THICK CROWDS DAILY — A view from the LSA Mall at Sun ‘n Fun 2010

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Attention, all LAMA members. Action requested:
LAMA CREATES NEW ANNUAL AWARD — THE BURKE TROPHY
Honoring top achievers in the name of Founder Lawrence P. Burke
PORT ORANGE, FLORIDA—March 9, 2010 — At its annual LAMA dinner, the light aircraft industry business organization announced nominations were open for the first annual Lawrence P. Burke Trophy. The Burke Trophy gets its name from Lawrence “Larry” Burke who co-founded the organization in 1982 and nurtured it through the ultralight aircraft phase and into the time of Light-Sport Aircraft. The Burke Trophy is one of two awards LAMA will convey each year to deserving individuals in the industry.

            LAMA created the President’s Award in 1991 to recognize outstanding leaders in the light aircraft community. Every year at AirVenture Oshkosh, LAMA presents this award to a new winner to provide recognition to the people who make the aircraft kits, factory-built aircraft like light-sport aircraft, those who supply products and services for light aviation, and individuals or government personnel who have shown exemplary service to light aviation. LAMA now adds the Burke Trophy.

            The Lawrence P. Burke trophy will be awarded to the person gaining the most nominations from his or her peers in industry for the greatest achievement in light aviation with respect to improving performance, efficiency, and safety of light aircraft during the preceding year.

            The Burke Trophy was established in 2008 in honor of Lawrence P. “Larry” Burke in recognition of his commitment to, and leadership of, advances in the sport and recreational aircraft industry. Larry was presented with a handsome, permanent trophy at a special ceremony July 29, 2008 by the LAMA board of directors. After a change in management of LAMA, the organization is now ready to move forward with the first nominations and will award the recipient a plaque at the annual LAMA dinner occurring at the 2011 Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida.

“To nominate a deserving person, any member of the light aircraft industry should provide the name and contact information for that person along with a few statements about why this person deserves the recognition,” requested LAMA Chairman of the Board and President Dan Johnson. “Please send these nominations to LAMA Office Manager Randee Laskewitz at Randee@LAMA.bz or mail them to the LAMA’s physical address of 2001 Steamboat Ridge Court; Port Orange FL 32128.”

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The following list of FAA contacts may be helpful.

FAA Sport Pilot (SP) / Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) Contact Information

Production, airworthiness and manufacturing designee policy	AIR-230 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	Steve Mulsow 202-385-6385 steve.c.mulsow@faa.gov
FAA “accepted” consensus standards	ACE-114 Small Airplane Directorate, Kansas City, MO	Tom Gunnarson 816-329-4186 thomas.gunnarson@faa.gov Terry Chasteen 816-329-4147 terry.chasteen@faa.gov
Maintenance and repairmen and maintenance designee policy	AFS-350 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	Caleb Glick 202-385-6416 caleb.a.glick@faa.gov
Sport pilot and flight instructor policy	AFS-610 Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) Oklahoma City, OK	Tom Marcotte, Airworthiness 405-954-6500 thomas.m.marcotte@faa.gov Rich Michaels, Pilot/Operations 405-954-6406 richard.d.michaels@faa.gov
Operations policy [LODA and LOA Re: E-LSA and Jan. 31, 2010 deadline]	AFS-810 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	Greg French 202-493-5474 gregory.french@faa.gov
Designee standardization and training	AFS-640 MMAC Oklahoma City, OK	Van Stumpner 405-954-3668 van.stumpner@faa.gov
Aircraft registration	AFS-750 MMAC Oklahoma City, OK	Sharon Mellinger 405-954-3284 sharon.g.mellinger@faa.gov
Educational Programs - FAASTeam	AFS-008 Long Beach FSDO-05 Long Beach, CA	Kevin Clover 562-421-7655 kevin.l.clover@faa.gov
Rulemaking: Airmen & Airspace / Aircraft & Airports	ARM-100 / -200 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	(ARM-100) 202-267-7625 (ARM-200) 202-267-
Aircraft accident analysis – SP/LSA	AAI-220 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	202-267-3168
Legal counsel – SP/LSA rule	AGC-200 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	202-267-3148
International policy support	AIR-40 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	202-385-8940
Sport Pilot Program medical issues	AAM-001 FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC	202-267-9689

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What Standards Has FAA Accepted?
You may only use standards accepted by FAA, even if ASTM has successfully balloted (passed) a newer version.

Which version is the one accepted by FAA? Here’s a chart:
This chart will become outdated. Always ask FAA before making changes to the certification status of your airplane.