LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, September 8, 2005 SYMPOSIUM IN SANFORD HIGHLIGHTS NEW, CHEAPER OPTIONS FOR FLIGHT SANFORD -- Anyone who's ever wanted to fly a plane can get an inside look at light-sport aviation when a one-day symposium comes to Sanford later this month. Featuring free demonstration rides and brief presentations on how to get involved in the latest form of aviation, the event is slated for Sept. 24 at the Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport. It begins at 9 a.m. All activities are free of charge and open to the public. Presentations focus on getting involved in light-sport aviation, becoming certified to fly and maintaining aircraft. Many participants are expected to fly in for the day. "These aircraft are new in the United States, and the Sport Pilot certificate is just one year old," said Eric Minnis, an aviation safety inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration and active local pilot who will be speaking at the symposium. "What the new light-sport aircraft accomplish," he said, "is provide people who have never flown and opportunity to experience the magic of flight at a much lower cost." Popular in Europe for many years, light-sport aircraft are designed especially for recreational flyers. They seat just two people; use a smaller, low-horsepower engine; and are subject to some limits on speed and weight. Their main advantage is that it costs much less to finish flight training and to purchase and operate a plane. Some models fly over 45 miles per gallon and run on lower-cost automotive fuel. "You can have your sport pilot's license in just 20 hours, compared to 40 or more for traditional aircraft. That means you'll pay much less for instruction," Minnis explained. "You also save money on plane rentals and purchases." Light-sport planes cost roughly one-third of a basic Cessna, one popular traditional airplane. Minnis said pilots can buy their own plane for just over $50,000. That's less than the price of some sport utility vehicles. The symposium also offers a close-up look at nearly a dozen light-sport models now on the market. Area residents have particularly good options available, since Fantasy Air USA, a popular retailer of the new Allegro planes, is based right at the Sanford airport. Largely because of Fantasy Air, North Carolina is the second most-active state in light-sport aviation, behind Florida, and has certified about a dozen different models for sale in the state. Though light-sport aircraft are equipped to fly into larger venues, like Raleigh-Durham or the Piedmont Triad international airports, aviation officials agree that they will be most appealing to people who want to leave their local airports and spend a few hours soaring over the countryside. "People have been flying these planes for years in Europe with an excellent safety record, and we expect to see new pilots take up light-sport aviation here," Minnis said. "The majority of people simply enjoy going up for relaxation. And, maybe, the occasional weekend fly-in." Forum attendance is limited. Visit www.fantasyair.com to register on line. -- 30 -- Media Contacts: Bob Heuts, Director Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant 919-774-8439 (phone) 919-775-5410 (fax) info@lcedc.com Eric Minnis, Aviation Safety Inspector Federal Aviation Administration 336-662.1029 (phone) 336-662-1080 (fax) eric.minnis@faa.gov More on the Web LCEDC Media Web: http://www.lcedc.com/media/ This release: http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr090805.txt Symposium information: http://fantasyairusa.com/symposium.html FAA Light-Sport Aircraft: http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/rec/light_sport/ Fantasy Air USA: http://www.fantasyairusa.com