External Color Schemes for AAP Bristell Aircraft

Our last post laid out the standard aircraft configuration for Aviation Access Project airshare owner's Bristell aircraft. Today we look at external color schemes.

Back in the old days, it used to be "paint scheme." But we can't use that terminology any longer as it is not paint that we're scheming, rather it is a series of vinyl decals. Bristell USA LP commissioned the talented folks at Scheme Designers of Cresskill, NJ to come up with a unique look for our aircraft.  (Side bar: I'm from New Jersey, and my college roomate at Rutgers freshman year was from Cresskill. Go Scarlet Knights!)

We're down to five finalists.  Here they are in no particular order. (There is no "option 4." Don't ask...)

Option 1

Option 3

Option 2

Option 6

Option 5

 As you look them over, try not to focus so much on color, but rather on design. A variety of colors will be offered, and they will all compliment the interior leather.  Which design do you like best?  And don't keep it to yourself, share it with us! Leave a comment and we'll keep count.  Help us decide. One lucky responder will win a Bristell cap and some AAP swag.

Note: The color scheme below was excluded at the last minute by executive decision. Maybe we can start a petition to bring it back?

Shorts Skyvan dressed up!

Meet the Brsitell (AAP Style!)

A quick glance at ByDanJohnson.com shows we are now up to 131 different models of SLSA aircraft out there in the world and we're closing on a hundred manufacturers. Regular readers know a little about the process Aviation Access Project went through in selecting potential partners. Considering the sheer quantity of designs out there, it was not easy.  But among the handful of top contenders, we kept coming back to the Bristell.  This post is devoted to spreading the word about this remarkable airplane.

First, the basics:

• Manufacturer: BRM Aero
• Designer: Milan Bristela
• US Distributor & Importer: Bristell, USA LP
• Specifications and aircraft information
• Regulatory limits for LSA-category aircraft

The Bristell

Next, the reviews:

• January, 2013 AOPA Pilot
• Accompanying Video 
• Dan Johnson's Video Review
• Plane & Pilot Review

Bristell features a 100hp Rotax 912 ULS engine

"With the BRISTELL, BRM Aero has re-imagined the SLSA to an entirely new level of unsurpassed comfort and outstanding performance. New students and experienced pros alike will want to experience the BRISTELL's comfort and ease of handling.

With a remarkable unobstructed view and luxuriously-appointed, widest-in-class cockpit, the BRISTELL makes flying comfortable...and fun! BRISTELL's lighter, more sturdy design means more luggage. And BRISTELL's incredible range of up to 8 hours means you can explore further - in more comfort - than ever before.
An ultra-wide 51” cabin with easily adjusted pedals from the pilot seated position assure pilot and passenger comfort on those long trips! 44 pounds of baggage capacity in each wing locker and 33 pounds of baggage behind the seats in the cockpit allow trip planning flexibility.

Maintenance by an existing A&P workforce is key to the success of any aircraft that is be maintained in the USA. To that end, BRISTELL uses standard hardware, including Goodyear Flight Custom and Aero Classic tires and tubes, MATCO wheels and brakes and standard Mil Spec 5606-style hydraulic fluid.   Bristell USA has established a nationwide network of service centers as well."  ---Bristell, USA.

Bristell's comfortable cockpit is over 51" wide!

We think the Bristell is breaking new ground at the high end of the LSA marketplace.  We also think Bristell USA has what it takes to support our owners' aircraft. And since our model of shared ownership drastically reduces cost, we can provide a luxurious, well-equipped aircraft for less than the price of a new car.  

Barry and Amy Pruitt run Bristell USA LP

The Configuration:

Aviation Access Project has arranged a special configuration of options and equipment for all AAP-managed Bristell aircraft.

BRM Aero Bristell -- Aviation Access Project Standard Configuration

•••

ROTAX 912ULS (100HP) engine with carb. heating and slipper clutch

Three blade ground adjustable FITI Eco Competition Propeller

•

Auxiliary electric fuel pump

Locking canopy, locking fuel tank caps

Adjustable fresh air ventilation system

Cabin Heat with Defroster

Noise Insulation of Firewall

Hydraulic differential disk brakes, Parking Brake

Adjustable Rudder Pedals – Three Positions

Steerable Nose Wheel

Electric Elevator Trim, Electric Flaps, Electric Aileron Trim

Blue Tinted Canopy with Canopy Cover

•

Luggage compartment behind the seats, 2 wing lockers

Leather upholstery, Leather upholstered glare shield

Four Point Seat Belts

2 LED Landing lights mounted in the wing

LED Wing strobes and navigation lights, Tail mounted Strobe

Wheel Fairings

BRS Parachute Model 1350

•

Avionics

Garmin SL 40 + AV 10 antenna

Garmin GTX 327 + AK 350 + antenna

PM 3000 stereo intercom

TruTrak EFIS GP with integrated 2 axis autopilot and AP level feature

Garmin 796

ELT 406 MHz Kannad Integra

•

Magnetic Compass

Included 2 ¼ “ engine instruments:

Engine RPM, CHT,  OT, OP, Fuel gauges, Hobbs hrs counter

•

Shipping, Customs, Certification, Flight Tests

The Map

Its a big country, no?  It is so big, that a map usually can't fit the whole thing without moving Alaska and Hawaii thousands of miles from their real locations.  It is the 3rd largest country by land area in the world (behind Canada and People's Republic of China), covering 3,794,000 square miles and including a population of about 314,000,000.  Big. 

So big you need an airplane to get around much of it.  Speaking of airplanes, we here at Aviation Access Project think there should be more of them, and more pilots to fly them. In 2011, the FAA estimates there are about 617,000 active, certificated pilots in the United States, or less than 1% of the population. On the other hand,  over 631,000,000 boarded commercial flights in the US in 2010 -about twice the population.  So, while not many people know how to fly, lots of people NEED to fly -some of them many times per year. We think there is an opportunity to grow the number of pilots and airplanes in the United States.

But where do we start?  Good question.  We start where the public wants us to start. As word about AAP has gotten out, we have more and more inquiries about locations of our flight centers.  

If you click the map above (or just click HERE), you'll be taken to a larger, more interactive version. The blue pins indicate locations where flight centers are in some stage of development. (This can vary, from some basic level of interest qualified by Rick, to waiting for the papers to close on the airplanes, and to everything in between.)

You will notice a few things. First, we have lots of interest coming from the southeast. Not a surprise, as most of us are based in that part of the country, and our rollout was in Sebring, Florida. Also, you'll see a good representation from the upper mid-west. Also no surprise -lots of aviation history, lots of interest in airplanes, plenty of pilots.  Finally, you'll notice two places with few or no pins -the west coast and the northeast -two of the most densely populated sections of our nation. This does not mean there is no interest at all. In fact, we have had some feelers from the New York City area, New Hampshire and the California coast. But nothing set yet, and not many in comparison to Florida, our most successful state so far.  (More about Florida in a future post.)

So, if you have been following along (Internet stats suggest people are in fact keeping an eye on us), and are wondering where we are going to land, the map above is a start. It will change. Some pins will go away, while others will replace them.  Some pins will go active in the next couple of weeks, while others will take more time.  If there is a pin near your house and you want to be a part of our community of aviators, let us know. If there is not a pin near where you live or where you want your airplane to be, also let us know. Get enough interest in your area, and maybe a blue pin will appear in your corner of the map!

It's a big country, with plenty to do and see.  It can be easier and more fun to see it by air. 

The Bristell

This could be you, taking off to see this beautiful country. No matter where you live! Join us!

Words

Lots of memos come and go from the Communications Desk here at Aviation Access Project HQ. Two reasons for this:

• We are  just getting started, so policies and procedures are still being written.
• We believe in open, honest communication both within "the family" and with the rest of the world. Open communication often means "lots of communication!" (By the way, our goal is to average about one email "blast" per month to our owners, contacts, and vendors. We hope that is not too much!)

Rick sent one to everyone the other day that bears mention here.  It seems we no longer use the word "Fractional" as in "fractional ownership." We are now a SHARED ownership & management company.  

Why? In my other life, I am a professor of communication. As such, I love to talk about words and the connotative and denotative meanings many words (like "fractional") have. So, I know our choice of words is important, as words have different meanings for different people, and some of those meanings are not so positive.  

For example, a common response when I explain what AAP does goes something like this: "Oh, you do timeshares for airplanes!"  I usually wince when I hear that. While it does show some level of understanding of what we do, the word "timeshares" to me connotes people being offered free trips if they put up with a 2-hour sales pitch for condos in some not-so-exotic location. This is not who we are.  (Rick says "We don't have to sell our product, our product sells itself, so no high pressure sales!")

As it turns out, in the land of the FARs (a somewhat strange land at times), "fractional" has a very specific meeting in regards to the regulation of shared ownership of CREWED aircraft operating outside Part 91 operations. "Fractional" is for the NetJets guys and their aircrews. 

Some people ask if all we do is facilitate partnerships."Partnerships" are associations for a small group of people who go in together on buying a plane without any sort of management component. Usually the partners share the work of managing their asset or assign one member as "managing partner." 

Neither is exactly representative of what we do. While we do put groups of people together for the purposes of aircraft ownership, we also manage that asset for them. (There is a list of 16 different line items we cover in our monthly maintenance fee.) We manage, you fly. That's it.  All we ask is if you fly your plane, you put gas in the plane when you are done. 

We also sell "fractions" of airplanes, but right now we are selling fractions of owner-flown Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).

We can also use the term "MANAGED OWNERSHIP" to describe AAP.  I think "shared" is more in line with our corporate values and the sense of community we want to create, but "managed" works too. 

Finally, we are sometimes asked if we are a "club." In many ways we are pretty similar to flying clubs in the sense that we want to build a community of aviators and that we have multiple aircraft and locations under management.  However, in our model, our customers OWN the airplane they fly. Most clubs are not organized such that individual members own a fraction of a specific airplane. We like clubs, and we see the possibility of working with clubs in certain locations, but we are different. 

So, welcome to the official blog of Aviation Access Project -your favorite shared aircraft ownership company, where you really do "OWN the Passion of Flying!"

Learning to Speak French?

As of today, Aviation Access Project has received inquiries regarding Flight Center opportunities.  Of those 75, 8 are from locations outside the United States and are located on three different continents. As you might   imagine, this has provoked numerous responses, including:

• PANIC!  How is a small business such as ours, a business just starting on its journey and with limited resources, going to handle that kind of response?
• Solution: Don't panic. Deep breaths. Prioritize. Count your blessings.
• JOY!  We're so great! People LOVE us! People want to join us! People want to PAY US!
• Solution: Feel free to come down off your mountain and get real. Work needs to be done, or that love will quickly go away, replaced by less friendly emotions.
• UNCERTAINTY. I don't know how to speak French or know the current exchange rate between the US and a bunch of other countries. (Some of whom speak French,by the way!) I sure don't know international aviation law plus the civil aviation laws of a half-dozen nations.  
• Solution: You don't know this stuff, but other people do.  Use  your resources, your assets, your network. (My very best friend in the whole world is a fluent Francophone and has often expressed interest in helping "The Project.") Rick knows smart people all over the place, and he's done this before.
• SURPRISE! How does a little company based in glorious downtown Gallatin, TN earn serious and significant interest from a variety of nations?
• Solution: THINK!
• We are on the Internet
• We are on LinkedIn
• We are on Facebook
• We are all about creating and joining a community of aviators. Many European nations have a "culture of joining." They like this!
• Aviation expenses in most other countries are MUCH higher than in the USA, so of course people will be interested in lower-cost alternatives to sole ownership.
• DREAD! How are we going to juggle all these requests, contacts, emails, phone calls, and time zone changes? 
• Solution: Technology to the rescue! There are lots of useful apps out there to help us out. We're collaborating online with cloud-based document storage and editing. We're getting up to speed using a cloud-based CRM tool to help us keep track of leads, opportunities, tasks, contacts and emails. We're using Skype for international phone calls. And we're installing accounting and  flight scheduling software as I write this.
• FUN! While we have experts in business and aviation around here, this is my first go-around as an officer in a start-up venture. I have learned from my colleagues and others, I have traveled to new places, met lots of interesting people, and learned a bunch of new things on my own. It has been an incredible ride, and as Rick is always telling me, it is really just starting. 

Getting some people together and starting your own business is really the epitome of the American Dream. It takes hard work, knowledge, common sense, resources and a GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.  It is a chance to put your mark on a venture, a way to craft a business they way YOU want it to be.  It is a fantastic way to solve problems and improve the lives of people.  You make a difference. You treat your colleagues and customers and vendors like family.  Because, at least from 9-5, they truly are. 

Picking the Airplane That Will Change an Industry

We get lots of questions at Aviation Access Project. They fall into two broad categories:

• Business questions (how does it work?)
• Airplane questions (why the Bristell?)

Today I want to talk about the 2nd question.  Why the Bristell?

The Bristell by BRM Aero

Aviation Access Project spent over a year on start-up. This is basically the process of going from an idea to a real company. One of the main things we had to think about was what airplane to offer.  It became clear early on in the process that for simplicity and economy, we should stick with one or two airplanes only.  If we offered more than that, it would be increasingly difficult and increasingly expensive.  But which one or two?

There are close to 100 manufacturers of Light Sport Aircraft in the world who collectively make over 120 different models. To say there is choice in this market is a huge understatement.  We also quickly remembered there are two kinds of pilots out there: High Wing Pilots and Low Wing Pilots. One argument was that non-pilots (our primary market) did not have a preference, while the other was that current or former pilots would prefer one over the other and that older pilots might find it easier to enter and exit a high-wing plane.  So, we more or less decided to offer one primary low wing option and one primary high wing.

Well, which high and which low?  We did what any 21st century start-up would do: Research and create a spreadsheet.  We created a list of factors to determine which was the best choice for us and our customers.  Here are some:

• Ramp appeal: The plane had to have some sex appeal to assist in marketing to a younger generation
• Staying power: We had to trust the manufacturer would be around for the long-term. We need solid support for our airplanes.
• US-based service centers. We needed nation-wide service ability, with parts in stock or easily available domestically. An owner's plane CAN'T be out of service for months waiting on a part.
• All-metal construction: A heated argument, but metal is easier to repair for most shops and AMTs.
• Rotax power: We felt the Rotax engine provided the best power/weight ratio and TBO combination. It is also efficient and readily available and repairable. 
• Solid construction: LSA construction quality varies greatly. We wanted a mature design that was rugged enough to be used by new pilots.
• Performance: We wanted to see numbers on the high side of the LSA envelope. This includes full fuel payload and maximum range. 
• Glass: The plane had to appeal to a generation raised on video games and iPads. Avionics are key.
• Comfort. We wanted something that would as comfortable and roomy as a sports car to appeal to a market not used to cramped aircraft interiors.

After much debate, many conversations with dealers, distributors, manufacturers and designers, after factory visits and spreadsheet updates, we found a few of each style of airplane that competed for the top spot.

On the low-wing end of things, we kept coming back to the lineup of airplanes that came out of the Czech republic bearing names like PiperSport, SportCruiser and Bristell.  A lovely series of comfortable roomy aircraft with excellent visibility, they met most of our requirements.  Of all of them, the Bristell is the most recent design. The aircraft manufacturer is BRM Aero, run by noted designer Milan Bristela.  We fell in love with the plane and the people involved with it on both sides of the Atlantic.  And we knew that between the Bristell and the similar SportCruiser/PiperSport, we had a ready supply in the USA.  (The guys at US Sport Aircraft, the importer of the SportCruiser are pretty cool too!)

We are not experts in LSA design and construction, although we consulted with those folks. We are not professional aircraft reviewers, although we read all we could.  But when you added up all the factors that were important to us, and we felt were important to our customers and success as a business, the Bristell rose to the top.  It may not be the best LSA ever, but, for now, it is best for us.  And we have an excellent relationship with the people Bristell USA LP, the importer for the US market, a relationship that will pay BIG dividends for our customers.  You will be hearing more about the people and those dividends in an upcoming blog.

až příště ("Until next time" in Czech)

Caffeine Anyone?

Sun 'n Fun will be here before you know it. Last year (2012) was my first-ever visit to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (KLAL).  I had a great time scouting airplanes and meeting people as part of the Aviation Access Project start-up plan. (Yes, we really do have a plan -it even is in a binder!)

I also learned about coffee.  Yep, coffee.  You see, I am not a coffee drinker.  Experience has shown that I may be the only certificated pilot in the known universe who does not consume mass quantities of the stuff.  But most pilots do. And most pilots know which local airport has the good stuff, which EAA pancake breakfast brews the finest, and what FBO uses name-brand vs. no-name in their pots. Not me. I just look for cheap gas.

So, what did I learn about coffee?  I learned about Flying High Coffee, which was served in abundance in Lakeland last year.  What do they do, besides make some excellent (I am told) coffee? Well they give money away!  That's right, they give it away! Who do they give it to? Aviation, that's who!

Rob Riggen is our hero today, and he is the founder and President of Flying High Coffee.  Rob's idea was to see if he could divert the estimated one BILLION dollars per year our industry spends on buying coffee to worthy aviation-related 501(c)(3) groups. He does this via a profit-sharing plan. We buy the coffee, he takes  much of the profit, and donates to organizations that sign up with his group. How cool is that? We still spend the billion bucks, but the profits go back into the industry we love!

As you might imagine, Rob is not exactly in it for the money.  He's in it because he has a PASSION for flying. And Aviation Access Project LOVES people with a passion for flying!  How do I know about Rob's passion? Well, last year I was in charge of something called the Tennessee Steam Plant Fly-In and Expo, which was designed to be an event where a bunch of pilots, EAA members, and aviation-related businesses from in and around Tennessee could get together, look at airplanes, eat, listen to music and learn about cool stuff. Sort of a mini-Expo or Sun n Fun.  EAA 1343 hosted it, and will again this year on June 22. And Rob provided the coffee.  Almost.

You see, I got with Rob and told him about what we were up to in Tennessee and wondered if he'd like to send some coffee down. We could publicize Flying High Coffee and sell some beans.  Rob was all for it and sent a package with beans, t-shirts, stickers and flyers.  But through no fault of his own, it was delayed and did not arrive at my door until the morning of the show -and I was long gone to the airport. So, our EAA chapter had plenty of coffee to serve for the rest of the summer!  And a couple lucky pilots got t-shrits. But Rob was fine with that, and laughed it off.

So, Rob Riggen is one of the good guys of aviation. He gets it. He has the passion. He wants to see it grow and prosper. And he is not above thinking outside the box and trying something new. And we like that at Aviation Access Project.  So today, we salute Flying High Coffee and urge everyone to give it a try.

And tell them the guys from Aviation Access Project say hi.

We have a store!

Forbes did a piece on "trends to watch" in online shopping. (It's here.) I was shocked when I did not see Aviation Access Project's online store mentioned. Then I realized the story was done in 2011, and Aviation Access Project didn't exist yet. Whew, I thought they might have dropped the ball!

What's a start-up today without an e-commerce component?  So, we took the plunge.  We teamed up with the good folks at Queensboro.com and after a not-too-steep learning curve, we're up and running.

Our Director of Business Development for Florida is a long-time friend named Carla.  When she is not figuring out how many pilots are based at Opa-Locka (KOPF) (hundreds!) or determining whether there is hangar space at Vero Beach, she is in charge of merchandising the online store.  So, if you head on over and find nothing you like, let her know by emailing her here. Actually, don't blame her yet as I set the store up and just gave her the keys.  She'll need a few days to tweak my selections.

Give it a try. I think you'll like the offerings. If you like the IDEA of Aviation Access Project, then you'll LOVE our t-shirts!

Happy shopping!

***Update: Special in progress. $10.00 off any purchase of $50.00 or more***

A Message from the Boss

Hello Everyone! I've been trying to get our CEO to write something for our blog because it was his vision that was the catalyst behind Aviation Access Project. Part of what makes The Project special is the people who are part of it -both the original crew and our airshare owners. Part of the role of this blog is to tell their stories, and I thought we should start at the top. Here is more or less what he sent me when I requested "a couple of paragraphs."  I've determined that "chronicalization" is a real word, even though Rick thinks he may have made it up and spell check does not recognize it.  So, I left it in. I'll translate from Rick-speak to plain English after he's done.

Hi this is Rick Matthews.  I guess I might have something to do with all the fuss.  Well, me and a dozen or so other guys that helped develop this together.  I only claimed to be an expert in just one small aspect of AAP, while the rest of the clan contributed their expertise into the various components at the right time...thus this is truly a collaboration of genuine, passionate, like-minded people. 

To keep these blog posts brief and relevant  I will endeavor to break down the chronicalization [Len, can I use that word?  Len, is that EVEN a word?] of the events leading up to our rollout and then throughout our success.  Hopefully the intent will be simply to inspire you...inspire you to boldly go against the grain to get what you want, driven by the dream, and being able to drop ego to dwell among other like-minded people to collectively get what you want.   

The story is just that.  A story.  Our story.  You have one, too. By the way, the auto-correct feature in Word wanted me to change "chronicalization" to "radicalization".  I cannot make that up.  An omen?  A suggestion?  No,  just something funny.

So, what does that mean? Well, it means that over time Rick will be sharing his story and how it leads into our story.  As the briefest of bios, let me just mention that Rick has a degree in aviation management from Middle Tennessee State University,  has worked for some of the largest aerospace companies and helped found one of the more successful fractional ownership companies in the United States.  Rick simply believes that fractional (shared) ownership of assets like airplanes makes to most sense and allows more people to afford the dream of flying.  And he wants more pilots -he wants more people to get into aviation, he wants to  get more people to stay in aviation. Because he loves aviation.  We all do. So, we joined up. And along the way we've met some great folks doing great things. You are going to read about them here as well.

Stay tuned, the journey is going to get real. Soon.

Rick (L) and Len (R)