www.PSFmagazine.com | December 2016-January 2017 | 15 14 | December 2016-January 2017 | Powered Sport Flying LAMA & USUA industry a beginning and clarity. Since the technology is still in its relative infancy, greater volumes of batteries might be considered by the FAA on a case-by-case basis. LAMA/USUA Proposal Our proposal is to recognize that batteries are the fuel that powers electric aircraft and to allow for 5 U.S. gallons by volume of batteries. That could be done by: An update to AC 103-7 which could go into detail about what exactly 5 U.S. gallons of batteries mean. For example, does it count the case? What about air spaces between cells for cooling? The usua and lama position would be just to count the cells or the electrolyte itself. Perhaps an option could be offered for aircraft designers. A policy statement would be a simple approach to the issue, which would provide clarity and allow designers to produce viable ultralights. Conclusion The ultralight regulations have proven to be very successful, allowing inexpensive flight for thousands of people. Moreover, the regulations have allowed innovation and the creation of sports like powered paragliding and even new categories of aircraft such as powered parachutes and weight shift control aircraft. Part 103 has even been the model for other countries such as the United Kingdom’s Single Seat DeRegulated (ssdr) initiative and Germany’s Sub-120 kg class. Now is the time to begin embracing a new technology. Beginning the process with the lightest of aircraft makes the most sense. • “Moore’s Law” for Batteries? Isn’t there some kind of “Moore’s Law” for batteries? Why is progress in improving battery capacity so slow compared to increases in computer-processing capacity? The essential answer is that electrons do not take up space in a processor, so their size does not limit processing capacity; limits are given by lithographic constraints. Ions in a battery, however, do take up space, and potentials are dictated by the thermodynamics of the relevant chemical reactions, so there only can be significant improvements in battery capacity by changing to a different chemistry.1 Support Our Advertisers Sources 1. Fred Schlachter, “Has the Battery Bubble Burst?”American Physical Society 21, no. 8 August/September 2012 2. 14 CFR Part 103, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES 3. Letter from the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel dated September 4, 2012 (Reproduced beginning on page 22) 4. Discussion on the Tesla battery system, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S 5. Rotax 447 specs and weight from Rotax’s Operators Manual for engine types 447 UL SCDI, 503 UL DCDI, 582 UL DCDI mod. 90 and 582 UL DCDI mod. 99, September 1, 2010 6. Geiger Engineering HP25D specifications found at http://www.geigerengineering.de/
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