More than any other one light aircraft company tends to resemble a Silicon Valley company (indeed, they are not location too far away, in Vacaville, California). Icon Aircraft markets like the big tech companies with compelling messages, visually striking images, and impressive airshow displays (albeit almost exclusively at AirVenture). They’ve managed to capture all kinds of media in and out of aviation. Cessna or Piper wishes they could market as well as Icon.
However, the company has been so long in coming to market that they’ve also created a group of naysayers. I see it as similar to the elections Americans just endured where one or the other candidate has some vigorous supporters and large chorus of those espousing #NotSomebody.
Indeed when Icon announced a production slowdown this spring, the latter group grew louder. The company said it was “in order to improve the supply chain and production processes.” Not everyone believed them; it depended on which camp was doing the listening.
“Those changes are well underway thanks to a new composites manufacturing facility currently being built in Mexico and ongoing low-rate aircraft production in California,” said Icon. They added that the California experience is “giving [our] manufacturing team insight into how to most efficiently build the A5.”
Recently, A5 serial number 16 (out of a claimed 1,800 orders) rolled off the California production line, Icon reported. “It is receiving its FAA Certificate of Airworthiness this week.” Icon added that the California factory will continue producing A5 aircraft at a low rate until the new composites manufacturing facility is completed. “This will allow the company to in-source the production of all composite airframe components once full-scale operations begin in March.”
Meanwhile, south of the border (south of that famous wall The Donald wants to build)…
“The new 306,000-square-foot facility in Mexico will be finished in the coming weeks, and the installation of manufacturing systems and building improvements is already underway,” said Icon. “The first airframe parts made at the new facility will be completed May 2017, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin next fall.”
Some will surely lament that this means another year delay. (…sigh!)
“In the meantime, {the company] is occupying a temporary 34,000-square-foot building nearby where direct-labor training and limited composite fabrication have already begun,” explained the California company. “Parts made at the new factory will be shipped across the border to the Vacaville factory, which will continue the A5 manufacturing process as it does today, including paint, systems installation, quality control, flight test, and aircraft deliveries.”
Meanwhile here in the USA, specifically at one of three sites including the newest in Tampa, Florida…
In November, almost precisely as the DeLand Showcase ran its inaugural event, Icon began flight operations at the Peter O. Knight airport (KTPF) in Tampa, Florida. Those who know the area or who attended the AOPA convention in Tampa back in 2005 know this charming airport right on the water in the central Florida city on the Gulf of Mexico.
“The new flight center is Icon’s first East Coast facility and offers the same courses as the flagship flight center at the company’s headquarters in Vacaville, California,” clarified Icon. Courses range from a single introductory A5 flight to a full Sport Pilot License with water endorsement for zero-time pilots. “[We] also offers transition courses for pilots already holding landplane or seaplane ratings.” Courses are open to both A5 deposit holders and the general public.
Icon said it selected Tampa and Peter O. Knight because of the year-round flying weather, outstanding water flying, and the airport’s convenient location just 10 minutes from downtown Tampa.
To learn more about Icon’s Flight Centers, go to this website or send them email or call 707-564-4100.
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