"Right Thing To Do"
Ultralight manufacturer North Wing Design has changed its
product pricing to include BRS parachutes with each aircraft.
"We're doing this for two reasons," said North Wing president,
Kamron Blevins. "First, we think it's the right thing to do for our
customer's safety. Secondly, we see a business opportunity. These
parachute systems are popular and their sale adds to our income.
It's important to stay healthy financially." He says that even the
saving of one life is worthwhile. He personally knows of which he
speaks.
Last August, one of
North Wing's trikes experienced carburetor icing and engine power
dropped. Pilot Lance Lefholz was flying cross country in California
with only forest and very rocky mountains under him as his aircraft
began to lose altitude. Unable to coax more power from the engine,
Lefholz deployed his BRS canister parachute system at 300 feet
above the ground. It deployed in less than 100 feet, says the pilot
and felt "like God had grabbed me by the scruff of my neck." He
escaped with minor injuries and less than $500 aircraft damage.
Effective immediately, North Wing reports the aircraft price
includes the parachute. "We've already priced our machines this
way. We are committed to equipping every aircraft possible with a
BRS system," said Blevins.
BRS salesman Gregg Ellsworth welcomed the North Wing move,
saying, "Kamron has taken a big step forward to advance aviation
safety and we welcome his company as a BRS Partners-in-Safety
member." The program improves communication between airframe
producers and parachute builder, BRS benefiting consumers with
optimized installations. BRS president and CEO said, "We're
delighted to have North Wing Design make this progressive move with
their aircraft."
North Wing manufactures
a line of four trike ultralight models and a range of trike wings
often sold to other carriage producers plus hang gliders and parts.
The company has become one of the most successful American-owned
and -operated trike builders.
BRS designs, manufactures and distributes whole-aircraft
emergency parachute systems for use on general aviation and
recreational aircraft. Since the early 1980s BRS has delivered over
18,000 parachute systems to aircraft owners around the world
including over 1,200 systems on certified aircraft. Actual
documented uses of these systems are credited with saving the lives
of 159 persons through December 2003. Lefholz is officially Save
No. 155 for the company.