USUA
Encyclopedia
The United States Ultralight Association (USUA) is a non-profit organization
that endeavors to support ultralight aviation
and ultralight aircraft
It is the oldest ultralight organization in the US
, formed after motors began appearing on hang gliders
in the early 1980s. USUA developed training programs to help the minimally regulated sport improve safety.
USUA is the internationally recognized representative for ultralight competition in the U.S. through the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
(FAI).
In 2006 the USUA partnered with the United States Powered Paragliding Association
(USPPA) to better represent the powered paragliding
segment of ultralight aviation.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that endeavors to support ultralight aviation
Ultralight aviation
The term "ultralight aviation" refers to light-weight, 1- or 2-person airplanes., also called microlight aircraft in the UK, India and New Zealand...
and ultralight aircraft
Ultralight aircraft (United States)
Ultralight aircraft in the United States are much smaller and lighter than ultralight aircraft in all other countries.In the USA ultralights are classified as vehicles and not aircraft and are thus not required to be registered or for the pilot to have a pilot licence or certificate.- US definition...
It is the oldest ultralight organization in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, formed after motors began appearing on hang gliders
Hang gliding
Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider ....
in the early 1980s. USUA developed training programs to help the minimally regulated sport improve safety.
USUA is the internationally recognized representative for ultralight competition in the U.S. through the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
(FAI).
In 2006 the USUA partnered with the United States Powered Paragliding Association
USPPA
The United States Powered Paragliding Association , is a non-profit organization based in the United States that endeavors to support a segment of ultralight aviation known as powered paragliding....
(USPPA) to better represent the powered paragliding
Powered paragliding
Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a motor on his or her back which provides enough thrust to take off using an adapted paraglider or paramotor wing...
segment of ultralight aviation.