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US LTA Corporation (United States,  Lighter-Than-Air) was founded in Eugene, Oregon,  USA in 1988 to design, engineer,  manufacture and offer airships for sale for  operational customers in the worldwide airship advertising and remote sensing market. Its prime achievement is the successful development of the 160', 6 passenger Model138S Airship and SKYMAX Nightsign  system which are type certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration( FAA) under Type Certificate# AS2NM and one of only a handful of designs in the world to accomplish this rating.

US LTA is a complete manufacturer operating out of a 16,000 sq. ft , facility where components are designed and fabricated in-house to ensure rigid quality standards, design uniformity and parts availability. US LTA employs full time staff including management, pilots, mechanics and engineers and is lead by Ray M. Olma and his son, Joe Olma and who form the ownership and day to day management of US LTA. Chief of Design is lead by MartinGrant of London, England whose experience in airships and their manufacture extends over 10 years through work at Airship Industries. This together with ties to various consulting arms gives US LTA access to a range of technical specialties critical in maintaining an effective design.

US LTA has developed its resume through manufacture and operation of (2) airships in commercial and scientific activities. For commercial programs US LTA utilizes the SKYMAX night sign system developed exclusively for the 138S with Inwave Corporation as a full color, removable night sign.  While in remote sensing operations the airship has proven itself a versatile platform capable of integrating an array of sensors under demanding flight conditions.

Operational clients include the Naval Research Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency, Applied Research Lab at University of Washington, NASA and many other groups from different countries. In commercial advertising the company carried out a public relations and promotions campaign for Pizza Hut including a full scale cross-country operational tour of the USA with the new airship, serial #002.   The #002 airship had an unfortunate envelope accident while on tour ending this program, but US LTA continued to operate and fly the #001 airship for clients through 1995.   The company continues to improve the design including the incorporation of higher strength envelope materials, advanced avionics and dual flight controls in addition to advancing the night sign technology.  US LTA is currently preparing to overhaul the #001 and is offering to construct new builds incorporating these improvements for sale to operational clients around the world.

US LTA's goal is to expand and broaden the potential for airships in a worldwide market place through strategic partnerships with operational customers and end-users. US LTA continues to see the demand for the promotional capabilities of airships increase as sponsors find it harder to garner attention in an increasingly
fragmented market. In addition, as sensors become smaller and lighter, utilizing airships as near earth remote sensing vehicles will also continue to increase.

Please feel free to contact us for any questions or items you would like to discuss.

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