SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
Lucky me. On a warm, sunny day I drove less than a mile to Spruce Creek Airport’s Downwind Cafe where I met the developers of MySky (the company) and the MS-1 (a new LSA model). After a tasty lunch we strolled over to the company’s facility and hangar. All the while I was within a mile of my home; last year my wife and I caught a good deal at Spruce Creek, an upscale residential airpark in Florida.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
Saying 2009 was a breathtaking year is no overstatement. The last air show of the season is now history and reflections on 2009 reveal a year of hardship for aviation. Cessna laid off more than half its workers and the Wichita giant’s problems are mirrored throughout general aviation. Seemingly invulnerable jet builders took a vicious tumble, losing many talented workers to layoffs. Business shows like NBAA had lots of empty spaces.
Yet in all this darkness, some are seeing daylight. Cessna boss Jack Pelton has been preaching recovery and he is echoed by other general aviation leaders.
For the Light Sport industry, 2009 also has been bad, but less bad. Sales are off about 25% (compared to general aviation’s nearly 50%). After a surprisingly sluggish fall for many producers, business seems to be perking up slightly. Sales of LSA to established flight schools remains the industry’s best performance to date, even in — or perhaps because of — a down economy.
Planning is already underway for 2010 events. For most LSA manufacturers, shows remain the primary marketing vehicles. Coming soon is the sixth annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo (often referred to as the Sebring LSA Expo), slated for Jan. 21-24.
Sebring Expo Chairman Bob Wood says exhibitors and sponsors are up over last year. And, remember, in the depths of economic gloom last January, the Sebring LSA Expo set record attendance, even outdrawing AOPA’s Expo. Many hope Sebring will help kick off a vastly improved 2010.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
While I prefer to blog about new aircraft, LSA safety is a worthy topic. Here’s the quick summary: While every loss is tragic to family and friends, LSA fatalities are not bad.
Now some detail: According to FAA records in the four-year period from August 2005 to June 2009, Special LSAS experienced 12 fatal accidents resulting in the loss of 18 lives. In 10 of the 12 accidents a licensed pilot was in control (that is, not a Sport Pilot). Altogether, 10 manufacturers were affected. Only one, variations of the CH-601 produced by three companies, had multiple accidents and that veteran design is now the subject of a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (read our story here).
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
It begins! The long-awaited arrival of Cessna into the ranks of Special Light Sport Aircraft has begun, with the first Shenyang-produced SkyCatcher arriving in Wichita. The company reports taking more than 1,000 orders.
At Oshkosh 2009, company officials said production would commence as originally planned in 2009 but that 2010 will be the year of substantial deliveries from the Chinese contract manufacturer. Soon, we’ll begin to see registered SkyCatchers show up on our market share reports.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
As the challenging year for aircraft sales grinds on, Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) continue to hold their own. In tough times, when cash is tight, small enterprises may fare better than large companies. Their low expense structures, modestly compensated managers and employees, and lean manufacturing — as allowed by industry-standards certification — become strengths.
But we see another quality. The half-million-plus general aviation pilots are more accepting of LSA today than three years ago. Organizations like AOPA are more fully embracing LSA, because their members are calling to ask questions. (Watch for a surprise LSA announcement at AOPA’s Aviation Summit this month!)
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
Most folks following LSA development know the Sting, refreshed for the U.S. market with the S3 model. Now, welcome to the TL3000 Sirius as the newest SLSA to hit the market in a blur of new offerings seemingly triggered after the industry hit #100.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSO
FloatCub
We’ve arrived at the end of the main float-flying season, but two of our largest LSA manufacturers just unveiled floatplane models. Welcome to the American Legend FloatCub and the Remos GX on floats.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
The operative phrases are: Triple Digits and Global Reach.
Triple digits refers to the number of approved Special Light Sport Aircraft available. In fact, once it hit #100, the industry shot past to #104 and I see no end in sight to new models.
Some major ones are expected soon, including Cessna’s SkyCatcher due in mere months and the attention-getting Icon A5. But I’m aware of at least a half dozen more that will arrive in the next few months, and we’re finding out about more all the time.
Global reach speaks to the planet-wide potential for aircraft meeting ASTM standards for LSA.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
We all discuss the declining numbers of pilots in FAA‘s database. Despite widespread concerns, efforts to bring more people into aviation have fallen short.
Several worthy projects have attempted to reverse the drop in the pilot population. Over the years, EAA’s Young Eagles program has put nearly a million and a half kids into airplanes. That’s a wonderful achievement, thanks to EAA‘s leadership and many thousands of willing volunteer pilots.
One LSA provider, Remos, has worked with the organization to provide flights to a large flock of kids attending EAA summer flying camps.
Yet we must do more to interest people in flying. Along those lines, I’m at once amazed and appreciative that AOPA and EAA have chosen to combine efforts (finally!). AOPA also is completely refashioning its former Expo into the new AOPA Aviation Summit.
For the first time, AOPA will be reaching outside the aviation community to welcome the public into all general aviation has to offer.
For the fifth year in a row, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) will work with AOPA event planners to provide an LSA area at the airport display, which itself will focus on more public outreach this year. One neat new addition: Seaplanes, including LSA, flying from a pier right next to Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, Florida.
For more on Sport Pilot, go to ByDanJohnson.com.
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON
Plenty of aviation enterprises face challenges, but one of the toughest has to be starting a new airshow event, such as last weekend’s Midwest LSA Expo at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (MVN) in Mt. Vernon, Ill. Not only must organizers get myriad details right and try to satisfy a broad range of expectations while trying to avoid losing a pile of money, they must also be blessed with agreeable weather. Good management may address the first items, but only Mother Nature can deliver sunny skies.
Airport manger Chris Collins, his Expo board, and a hard-working crew of Midwest LSA Expo volunteers faced overcast skies on Thursday and 20-25 knots of wind on Friday. Yet the two days brought highly positive reviews from every vendor I queried, a few sales were logged, and day three was forecast to have the best weather yet. Organizers hoped to break even financially while drawing about 1,000 attendees.
For a first-year, LSA-only event, I’d call the Midwest LSA Expo a success. The Mt. Vernon Outland Airport team will have every right to be proud of their accomplishment. Some vendors are already promising to return next year. Veteran airshow exhibitors offered comments: “The facilities are great… Chris and his aides have promoted and organized the LSA Expo very professionally…The town is amazingly supportive and the area offers an abundance of nearby hotels and restaurants.”
For more information: ByDanJohnson.com, MidwestLSAShow.com
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