In FAA’s official letter sent by John Colomy, Acting Manager of the Small Aircraft Directorate, the Federal Aviation Administration states, “The majority of facility assessments are now complete and the FAA is confident that LSA manufacturer’s compliance can match that of the commercial aviation manufacturers.” Colomy continues, “This will be a major accomplishment since using consensus standards and compliance self-declarations is a new way of doing business for the LSA industry.” Well, actually, this is the only way the LSA industry has done business. It is “a new way” for the FAA to do business… and congratulations to this federal agency for stepping back from their normal regulatory control. *** At a briefing to industry officials including myself, FAA said they had finished 23 of 29 planned assessments. While FAA was generally pleased with industry participant cooperation and with the compliance of aircraft to the standards, officials conclude, “It is evident that there remain areas for improvement.” How could it be otherwise?
Archives for February 2009
Zenith & AMD Update CH 601 & CH 701 to 650 & 750
Consider the Zenair / Zenith / AMD family of enterprises… Following family patriarch, Canadian Chris Heintz (the designer) are Missouri-based son Sebastien Heintz (the kit supplier) and Georgia-based son Mathieu Heintz (the aircraft producer). Another sibling, Michael Heintz acts as a dealer in California. The Heintzes also have a family of aircraft models. *** Zenith Aircraft Company supplies kits for the 2-seat CH-650 and CH-750 plus the 4-seat CH-801. AMD supplies fully built versions of the 650 and 750 plus the Part 23-certified Alarus. In 2008 the family companies upgraded their top sellers: CH-601 and CH-701. Of these the CH-750 LS is the newest Special LSA on our list. *** Though it visually looks like the CH 701, the 750 LS stands two inches taller and is 11 inches longer with a 2-foot 9-inch greater wingspan, bumping wing area to 144 square feet from 122 on the CH 701.
Light-Sport Aircraft… Leading the Way Up?
Sebring was a welcome event for all who participated. Companies that stayed home may be wondering if that was the right move. With record crowds, airplane orders taken, and merchandise selling out, the Florida LSA show gave a welcome lift to a global aviation industry that’s been laying off workers by the thousands. But, besides the general good news I’ve been asked dozens of times, “What was new?” at the event. Here’s my list; details will follow in other SPLOG posts. Surely I’ll leave out some worthy aircraft (you’ll tell me, I hope, and I’ll include them). *** In no particular order…the well-proven RANS S-6 Coyote debuted as an SLSA; Urban Air’s newly certified Samba complements their lovely Lambada; FPNA’s amphibious Cape Town appeared on brand-new floats; Paradise delivered their first hand-control P-1; Remos debuted their GX 2009 with new gear and a redesigned interior; a year after its debut at Sebring ’08 CTLS displayed the first-ever Garmin 696 installation, while the avionics company announced their GDU 370 and 375 MFDs; Evektor showed their SportStar SL with a recontoured exterior; Tony and Adriel Anderson showed their Fk9 on new Baumann amphib floats; they’re teaming up for sales with Hansen Air Group, which also showed a production version of their new FA-04 Peregrine; Zenith Aircraft constantly demo flew the STOL CH-750, an upgrade from their popular 701; Cessna identified notable changes in the final Skycatcher design (a larger tail) and confirmed first deliveries in ’09; and, the K-10 from Ukraine-based Skyeton made its worldwide debut…and made a sale.