Accessibility Device Stuck in Limbo
A simple device that converts an aircraft’s rudder pedals to a rudder handle has been unavailable to disabled pilots and aspiring pilots for over three decades. Due to an incomplete sales transaction, this safe and simple, yet elegant and cost-effective solution is stuck in limbo and cannot be legally produced and made available to those that need it. If you, or someone you know, has legal resources that can help resolve the limbo that the Union Hand Control STC is in, please contact info@nolimitsendeavors.org.
Here’s the story:
The Union Hand Control is a simple device that can be attached to the rudder pedals in a plane, allowing the rudder to be controlled with a handle. No mechanics are involved, as the control handle attaches to the rudder pedals with brackets and a few bolts. This device was patented in 1975 and was later approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and granted an STC, or Supplemental Type Certificate, which approved the hand control modification device for use, as well as how the modification affects an original aircraft design. To use the FAA approved Union Hand Controls, the pilot must have controls produced by the STC owner or have been granted permission to utilize the hand control design by the STC owner. The Union Hand Controls can be installed and removed by the disabled pilot and does not require a certified A&P Mechanic to install or remove them. Here is a 1-minute video showing how the Union Hand Controls work: https://youtu.be/NxQ8iqiUJbs?si=HxT1rEMKBaoP9BjB (Note: foreign produced hand controls are not approved by the FAA for use in the US).
With the Union Hand Controls a pilot with a lower body disability has the opportunity to train in the world’s most popular training aircraft, including multiple Cessna models, at pretty much any flight school in the world. Without these hand controls, training at regular flight school is almost impossible.
No Limits Endeavors learned in 2022 that the Union Hand Control device is no longer being produced and set out to find out how to get this simple and economical accessibility solution available again.
Linwood Nooe of Mississippi is the STC owner for the Union Hand Controls on file with the FAA. When No Limits contacted Mr. Nooe, we learned that he had some health issues (pre-covid pandemic) that made mobility and communication a challenge. As a result, Mr. Nooe reportedly sold the STC for the Union Hand Controls to Mr. Ed Woerle for $17,000. We understand from Mr. Nooe that Mr. Woerle is also elderly.
Since the sale, nothing has happened with the Union Hand Controls and they are still not in production. Mr. Nooe has been unable to reach Mr. Woerle. No Limits Endeavors has also been unable to reach Mr. Woerle, including multiple attempts of sending certified letters, which were returned with no signature. After much research, No Limits Endeavors Managing Director, Nick Jones was able to speak to Mr. Woerle’s daughter who explained that her father tried to contact the FAA about the Hand Controls and was told that Linwood Nooe is still the owner of the STC.
The proper process to sell an STC is for the owner to contact the FAA and provide documentation of the sale and request the transfer of the STC to the new owner. The FAA then issues a new STC under the new owner’s name. This never took place. Mr. Nooe took $17,000 from Mr. Woerle and gave Mr. Woerle a printed piece of paper listing Mr. Nooe as the STC owner, but ownership was never transferred—akin to selling a car to someone but not signing over the title.
No Limits Endeavors then attempted to explain the proper process to sell an STC to Mr. Nooe so that he would properly complete the sale, or retain ownership of the STC and return the funds to Mr. Woerle. Mr. Nooe continues to refuse to do either, despite the fact that he remains the legal owner of the STC. Mr. Nooe then asked No Limits Managing Directors, Nick and Charlotte Jones, to personally pay for a lawyer for him to fix his mistake, which Nick and Charlotte declined to do as they felt it is Mr. Nooe’s responsibility to fix his error.
No Limits Endeavors contacted the FAA to explain the predicament Mr. Nooe finds himself in, emphasizing how this is hurting the disabled community, and the FAA said that the sale is a private matter that the parties would need to seek legal counsel to resolve.
These actions have prevented individuals with disabilities that could benefit from this device from using it for over a decade, if not longer. Very few Union Hand Controls previously produced become available for resale. No Limits has spoken with over a dozen pilots seeking this device that can’t find one. With the current pilot shortage in the United States, it is a travesty that such a such an inexpensive, safe accessibility solution is not available because of the careless actions of individuals that don’t even need the device.
No Limits Endeavors hopes that the owner will make the hand controls available again at a reasonable price. Alternatively, if No Limits Endeavors donors can help No Limits purchase the STC, No Limits will make Union Hand Controls available at cost to anyone that needs them.
If you, or someone you know, has legal resources that can help resolve the limbo that the Union Hand Control STC is in, please contact info@nolimitsendeavors.org.
