Illicit Use of Light Sport Aircraft

Analysis of Gyrocopter and Trike Use in Border Smuggling Operations

Updated: May 11, 2011

Legal Disclaimer

• This analysis is for internal use by Planehook Aviation Services, LLC

• Planehook Aviation Services, LLC makes no warranty to outside parties as to the accuracy of this analysis

• Those outside of Planehook Aviation Services, LLC who rely on the information contained herein do so at their own risk

Analysis Purpose

• The purpose of this analysis is to assess the suitability for light sport aircraft to be used for illegal purposes along US borders

• The analysis examines two specific types of light sport aircraft– Gyrocopters– Trikes

Trike Aircraft

• Trike Aircraft Examined: 121• Average Characteristics*

– Maximum Takeoff Weight: 963 lbs– Payload (less pilot and fuel): 240 lbs– Cruise Speed/Range (30 minute reserve): 58 knots / 256 nm– Cruise Endurance (30 minute reserve): 4.4 hours

*2 seat aircraft used for average performance analysisNote: The technical term for trike aircraft is “weight-shift aircraft”

Scenario A: Trike, Single Hop

5 nm one-way routeTakeoff to airdrop 0:05:10Approximate round trip 0:10:50

Estimated Payload 240 lbs

Scenario B: Trike, Multiple Hops

Same 5 nm routePayload added as fuel is consumedFlying stops with 30 minutes reserve

Average Trike Endurance 4.4 hoursTime for Roundtrip 0:10:50Number of Roundtrips 24Additional Payload per Trip 3.14 lbsMaximum Payload Delivered 6,627 lbs or 3.3 tons

Gyrocopter Aircraft

• Gyrocopter Aircraft Examined: 28

• Average Characteristics*

- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 950 lbs - Payload (less pilot and fuel): 367 lbs - Cruise Speed/Range (30 minute reserve): 70 knots / 178 nm - Cruise Endurance (30 minute reserve): 2.5 hours

*2 seat aircraft used for average performance analysis

Scenario C: Gyrocopter, Single Hop

5 nm one-way routeTakeoff to airdrop 0:04:17Approximate round trip 0:09:04

Estimated Payload 367 lbs

Scenario D: Gyrocopter, Multiple Hops

Same 5 nm routePayload added as fuel is consumedFlying stops with 30 minutes reserve

Ave Gyrocopter Endurance 4.4 hoursTime for Roundtrip 0:09:04Number of Roundtrips 16Additional Payload per Trip 4.3 lbsMaximum Payload Delivered 5,996 lbs or roughly 3 tons

Threat and Tactic History of Use

December 2008 Tucson, AZNote: Drug payload approximately 250 lbs

November 2008 San Luis, AZMay 2009 Yuma, AZ

Nighttime Drug Smuggling Operations:

Marana, AZ October 2008

San Luis, AZ November 2008

Tucson, AZ December 2008

Yuma, AZ May 2009

Calexico, CA April 2011

Planehook Analysis

As terrestrial drug interdictions improve along the Texas-Mexico Border, the likelihood of Los Zetas and the remaining elements of the Gulf Cartel making use of Light Sport Aircraft to move drugs into the US using aerial tactics similar to the Sinaloa Cartel will increase.Threat: Cartel use of LSAs using night low-level flight tacticsThreat Level: MediumVulnerability: Texas border areas with relatively flat terrain at near-sea-level elevations. Region of highest vulnerability is Falcon Lake to McAllen, Texas.Vulnerability Level: Low, trending to MediumRisk Level: Medium (4 out of 10)

Illicit Use of Light Sport Aircraft

Analysis of Gyrocopter and Trike Use in Border Smuggling Operations

Updated: May 11, 2011