ASTM formally announced on 12 April 2016 that Adam has been named chairman of ASTM International Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft. Officers are elected to committee every two years. Previously Adam had served as the vice-chairman of Committee F37.
For additional information see the full release from ASTM International.
Another ASTM Standards for Light Sport Aircraft course is in the books and it was a great one. In early February attendees from two manufacturers attended the two day course in Vacaville, CA.
Since first being offered officially in 2009, 64 people have taken this class in three different countries. Currently there are two opportunities to take the course in person before the October 2016 deadline for receiving compliance training. An electronic version of the class is in the works and should also be available soon. Check out the ASTM website for details.
After meeting someone new and the initial “what do you do?” question, there typically comes some kind of location question, “Where are you from?” or “Where is your business located?” Recently, we have started to ask the question, “How did you pick (your city)?” Or “Why (location)?” Our business-radar is always up, considering why people and families land where they do in such a mobile and global marketplace.
There are many conflicting opinions out there about the best states and cities to start a small business. Some praise Indiana’s low cost of living and favorable tax environment. Others bemoan the lower percentage of skilled labor. But as a small business who started in Indiana and has grown year on year, we think we live in a great place to do business. Let us tell you why. . .
One reason we love operating in Indiana is because we see so many existing opportunities and opportunities for long term growth. In the past 15 years, we have seen the technology and science industries grow exponentially and locally. Aviation, a field close to our hearts, has had a presence here for many years but has really started to expand in the past 5 years. It’s an exciting time right now in technology, the sciences, and aviation and Indiana is positioned to take advantage of the growth in these industries: multiple universities with excellent engineering, science, and aviation programs, combined with a number of large employers are a great place to start. We see a generation of students (future employees) who want more from a job than a 9-5 commitment and a 401k. We see adults who want to be passionate about what they are doing and have some flexibility while they work. Small businesses are a great environment to foster the creativity, passion, and excitement coming out of this generation of graduates.
Let’s face it: Indiana is a pretty affordable place to do business. The cost of living is roughly 6% below the national average. That includes housing, utilities, transportation and even health. While it may not be the first thing on a fresh college graduate’s mind, an apples to apples comparison of a comparable starting salary shows that a modest starting salary would stretch much farther in this startup-friendly city. Starting and operating a business is less expensive here too, with lower capital business costs (3.8% below average for those who like statistics.) And the tax laws in Indiana are favorable for starting a new business, a huge consideration for any entrepreneur.
In addition to the monetary cost, IN is a convenient place to do business. You say, “Fly over state.” We say, “Close to everything!” Centrally located in the country with one of the nation’s best international airports, it’s easy to be anywhere within a few hours. Streamline Designs is located about 30 minutes from IND, which is important for us when our clients are located all over the country and the world. It is becoming more and more common for businesses to have customers, employees, suppliers, and colleagues all over the country and the world. Being able to get to those people easily is a big plus.
We work hard at Streamline Designs and it is nice to know that when it comes time to play there are plenty of options. Indianapolis is best known for its sports teams and of course the Indy 500; however, if sports aren’t your thing, the food and art scene is alive and growing. Affordable rural property, river cities with old-timey charm, and hip neighborhoods all coexist beautifully in IN, where it’s a great place to raise a family and a business.
Do you love the city you are working in? Tweet us here @sportplane.
ICON Aircraft, a cutting edge airplane manufacturer, and Streamline Designs (SD), a consulting and technical solutions company, began working together in 2014 with the purpose of bringing ICON’s A5 through its FAA audit. ICON was in the process of designing their first aircraft, an amphibious LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) that promised to change recreational flying. Their goal is simple, make flying as fun and freeing in reality as it always is in people’s heads. They just needed a little help. Enter Streamline Designs.
After SD’s initial evaluation of ICON’s overall strategy, plans, and timeline for getting to the FAA audit in early 2014, several improvements were suggested which resulted in significant cost and time savings. From here, both companies agreed to an ongoing consulting relationship.
“Working with ICON to help assure a smooth and successful LSA certification is a perfect example of our focus on enabling solutions,” said Streamline Designs Owner Adam Morrison. “We were able to quickly integrate with the capable ICON team to achieve verifiable compliance and readiness for the FAA audit across the entire business.”
Throughout the process, Adam and Streamline Designs worked with ICON’s engineering, quality, manufacturing, and production teams in order to create the best possible aircraft and meet the regulatory and ASTM standards for the FAA audit. Regardless of the quality of work on an aircraft, it can’t be sold if isn’t granted an airworthiness certificate. SD was able to help navigate the compliance and testing process, answer interpretation questions, and provide strategic guidance throughout the process. Adam also conducted a mock audit and comprehensive review leading up to the FAA audit to verify the readiness of the organization.
Early in 2015, SD was contracted to create both the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) and Maintenance Manual for the A5. With the FAA audit scheduled for mid June of 2015, the timeline was extremely aggressive, but Streamline Designs delivered on time and the POH and Maintenance Manual had zero findings during the audit.
Adam said about taking on the technical publications, “The success of these manuals reflect the ability of Streamline Designs to quickly bring tangible, value-added engineering and technical publication solutions to complement the existing strengths of a team.”
On 11 June 2015 the FAA issued the first S-LSA airworthiness certificate for ICON’s A5, which means ICON can now begin customer deliveries for the aircraft. It was an exciting day for ICON and Streamline Designs.
As Adam reflects on the experience he says, “As I became more intimate with the A5 design, I truly understood that the ICON mission and the mission of Streamline Designs to help companies solve really tough challenges are in perfect alignment. The A5 is a special airplane, and it is an honor to be part of the team that’s making it available to customers.”
Streamline Designs worked with ICON Aircraft over the past 18 months to assist with the ASTM compliance, FAA audit process, and development of the A5 technical publications. Originally brought on to evaluate ICON’s overall strategy, plans, and timeline for the audit, SD made several suggestions for improvements which resulted in significant cost and time savings for ICON. SD continued to consult on the project through the successful completion of the FAA audit on 11 June 2015.
“Working with ICON to help assure a smooth and successful FAA audit is a perfect example of our focus on enabling solutions,” said Streamline Designs Owner Adam Morrison. “We were able to quickly integrate with the capable ICON team to achieve verifiable compliance and readiness for the FAA audit across the entire business.”
“Streamline Designs played a critical role in the successful completion of the ICON A5’s FAA audit,” said ICON VP of Engineering Bill James. “Adam and his team were involved in all aspects of the process from planning to technical publications development, as well as in direct support of the audit. His knowledge of the ASTM consensus standards and the FAA regulations for Light Sport aircraft is unparalleled, and the impact to our success has been immeasurable.”
Throughout the process, Adam and Streamline Designs worked with ICON’s engineering, quality, manufacturing, and production teams in order to create the best possible aircraft and meet the regulatory and ASTM standards for LSA. Adam also conducted a mock audit and comprehensive review leading up to the FAA audit to verify the readiness of the organization.
Early in 2015 SD was contracted to create both the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) and Maintenance Manual for the A5.
Morrison said about taking on the technical publications, “The success of these manuals reflect the ability of Streamline Designs to quickly bring tangible, value-added engineering and technical publication solutions to complement the existing strengths of a team.”
On 11 June 2015 the FAA issued the first S-LSA airworthiness certificate for ICON’s A5 which means ICON can now begin customer deliveries for the aircraft.
As Morrison reflects on the experience he says, “As I became more intimate with the A5 design, I truly understood that the ICON mission and the mission of Streamline Designs to help companies solve really tough challenges are in perfect alignment. The A5 is a special airplane, and it is an honor to be part of the team that’s making it available to customers.”
About Streamline Designs, LLC:
Streamline Designs is a small business of engineers committed to providing cost effective and timely solutions for a variety of technical needs. With over 20 years of experience in aviation, they are a leading provider of technical consulting services and solutions within the light aviation industry. SD develops innovative product solutions while serving a wide array of markets, leveraging the cross- pollination of technologies and ideas.
About ICON Aircraft:
ICON Aircraft is a consumer sport plane manufacturer founded in response to the sport flying category created by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2004. ICON’s first plane is the A5, an amphibious sport aircraft that fuses outstanding aeronautical engineering with world-class product design.
Adam Morrison of Streamline Designs recently led a class of 15 through the ASTM Technical & Professional Training Course on the ASTM Standards for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) in Sunriver, Oregon. The training course, offered through ASTM, is recommended for anyone who is manufacturing Light Sport Aircraft, as well as management, engineers, distributors, and other personnel who would benefit from understanding compliance to the governing body of ASTM standards.
This particular class was unique in that several different manufacturers were represented including: ICON Aircraft, Synergy Air, Van’s Aircraft, Kitfox Aircraft, Cub Crafters and Glasair. Two auditors from the FAA also participated and spoke favorably about the experience. Not only did the FAA feel good about the class but the majority of participants shared that the information was relevant and had high value for them in their role within their company, the industry, and their own professional lives.
An ASTM-proctored, LSA Training Certificate is part of the industry’s continuous improvement of self-regulation practices. Recent changes to the quality standards for those signing declarations of compliance requires that signatories be trained. The new standard states that “Any member of the Quality Assurance Administration, identified in the Quality Assurance Manual, must have completed, with documented records, a standards training program within the preceding four years. The training program must leave the student with understanding of [requirements, methods, means, and verification of compliance to the ASTM standards.” The ASTM class, led by Adam, is one way for manufacturers to comply to this requirement. In the next 12-18 months, as additional regulatory bodies adopt the new policy, certified training in compliance will become mandatory, which is especially important in countries where manufacturers self-declare compliance. The training program, which has been offered for several years now, has been modified in a direct response to a push from authorities for people who are signing declarations of compliance to know exactly what their signature means.
For further information, see the ASTM Technical and Professional Training Website.
Adam responded to the recognition by saying it was an honor to be recognized by the Light Sport Aircraft committee on it’s 10th Anniversary during Streamline Design’s own 10th Anniversary year.
Technical Committee F37 addresses issues related to design, performance, quality acceptance tests and safety monitoring for light sport aircraft (LSA). While in Atlanta the committee also passed F2972, a new standard for light sport quality assurance. www.astm.org/standardization-news
As Vice Chairman of ASTM Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft, Adam played an integral role in organizing several task groups and committee meetings that met during the week. These meetings were all attended by representatives of the FAA and covered a variety of topics including: electric propulsion and their incorporation into LSA, equipment standards on avionics and the systems avionics interact with, a discussion on airframe emergency parachute systems and the definition of make and model of LSA. The last was of particular interest to manufacturers and the FAA as the FAA begins to audit manufacturers when they release new models.
In addition to committee meetings Adam and Severin were able to meet with Quicksilver Aeronautics LLC to discuss the ratings assessment Streamline Designs had done for Quicksilver regarding their viability of moving into LSA. For the complete article go to Quicksilver at AirVenture
.
Severin and Adam were able to spend Tuesday touring the various booths in the Exhibit Hangers. There they had the chance to talk with suppliers, software and avionics companies about the latest innovations and technologies available. Severin especially appreciated the opportunity to talk with other engineers and professionals who understand the challenges faced by those working in the light aircraft industry.
AirVenture is a family affair for Streamline Designs and both families look forward to Thursday when everyone comes out and enjoys KidVenture. As Severin puts it, “It is refreshing to be in a family friendly business involved in a family friendly industry. It is great to give the kids a glimpse of what I do and the kind of people I work with.” Building balsa gliders and flying gas-powered control line models were particular favorites with the kids.
Adam summed up the week by saying, “It is always good to visit a familiar place and connect with people from the industry. To see that Streamline Designs plays a significant role in the light aircraft industry and for the kids to have a family friendly environment where they can see what we do as a company.”
