Hand controls
The Union Aviation hand control.
This controller is made specifically for the Cessna 172 aircraft, has helped many pilots with disabilities earn their licenses.
The control is designed to allow pilots to use the throttle, rudder, and brake with one hand while the other works the ailerons and elevator. Normally a ring is attached to the control; you place your right hand through the ring and use wrist movements to go left or right rudder and up for brakes, while holding the throttle.
The controller is designed to be readily removed from the aircraft, the pedal controlling structure being specifically designed for use by pilots unable to properly actuate rudder and/or rudder and brake controlling pedals with their feet.
Our hand control gallery
Vision Air hand Control
This device developed and manufactured in Australia by Suzi Duncan. Its sole use is to allow full rudder authority on the ground and in the air, thus removing the need for legs and feet. We have delevoped our own techniques with regard to procedures or manoeuvres requiring physical multi-tasking.
It is a requirement that all our instructors teaching with the VisionAir hand control can operate and fly with the retro-fit installation.The Vision Air hand controller for use by disabled pilots is a development of the American Blackwood hand controller. The hand controller resembles the Blackwood hand controller, except that the lever part is in two pieces.
This allows the lower part to remain permanently attached to the vertical post of the left rudder on the right side of the aircraft, the pilot only needing to attach the upper half of the hand controller to the lower half using two pins to secure the connection, in order to use the controller.
How the Vision Air & Union work
Thinking for the future
Working with Cranfield College of Aeronautical engineering we are developing hand controls for the PA28 and the Cessna 172
