By Dan Johnson
More and More, LSA Are Going Global
Since the beginning of LSA time, way back in 2005 (when the first LSA was approved), LSA have arrived on American shores from overseas factories. American producers also sold airplanes to Yankees, but none went overseas as governments of other nations had not yet accepted ASTM certification standards. In the last year, a lot has happened.
At least four companies are selling LSA in other countries with aircraft defined by U.S.-originated parameters and meeting ASTM standards. LSA Global developments are reported by Arion Aircraft, U.S. Sport Aircraft (representing Czech Sport Aircraft), Remos Aircraft, and Flight Design.
Yankee First? Arion Aircraft is one of the first all-American companies to go global with its production. The Marysville, Tennessee company -- a related company to Jabiru U.S., which supplies the J230 and other high wing models to LSA buyers in the USA -- has sent aircraft to Australia. The down-under country was one of the first to use ASTM certification after the new approval method was introduced by FAA in America. I am not aware of any other U.S.-based company that has sold LSA products outside the States. Arion's Pete Krotje also told me of interest from Brazil, one of the newest countries to OK use of ASTM certification standards.
South American expansion U.S. Sport Aircraft spokesman Donato Martino said, "We believe we are the first company to actually sell and deliver an LSA to a customer in Brazil. Paul Kramer was our ferry pilot who commanded the entire 4,300 nautical mile flight in PiperSport/SportCruiser N297PS from Fort Pierce, Florida to Curitiba, Brazil. Paul kept a detailed log of his journey and wrote a story about the effort. It took several months of planning and document preparation but we did pull it off and will most likely be delivering more SportCruisers to Brazil." The SportCruiser is built in the Czech Republic by Czech Sport Aircraft.
German Export Recently reorganized German manufacturer Remos Aircraft has been renewing dealerships around the world including a tour through the USA. The company also reports winning approval from aviation agencies in India and Brazil for their GX design while in South Africa, Remos obtained a Type Certificate, the company added. "This assures that India and Brazil, which have not yet established LSA certification, will grant airworthiness certificates in reciprocal recognition of the EASA LSA Type Certificates," stated Theo Paeffgen, CEO. He noted that in South Africa, the government has now developed LSA type certification standards.
Chinese Connection LSA market leader Flight Design has delivered aircraft to China where the German company has earned a Type Certificate under Chinese rules. It was the first LSA manufacturer to gain support from China aviation authorities and, like other aviation enterprises, Flight Design anticipates sales growing significantly as that country opens aviation to personal use for the first time (before last year, all aviation in China was solely military or airline).
As the second-largest aviation market in the world after the USA, Europe also factors large. The approximate equivalent to FAA, EASA has now issued their Certification Specification for LSA (CS-LSA) so EU countries can also move toward sales of LSA types. Costs remain a concern as EASA charges manufactuers for approvals and oversight where in the U.S., these costs are borne by taxpayers. Another difference: In Europe, no speed limit exists for this category of aircraft; in-flight adjustable props are permitted to generate higher cruise speeds. Since ASTM standards accommodate these features, this presents no problem even if American buyers have a speed limit and must use fixed pitch props.
My LAMA Europe affiliate, Jan Fridrich, first coined the phrase "LSA Global" and, increasingly, it appears his foresight is proving accurate.
Electric Aircraft Development Alliance Takes Form
A wide range of people sat in a room used all day long by the ASTM Committee that develops the LSA certificate standards. Apparently sitting in a room all day — while the sun shown brightly and the flying would have been great — was not enough punishment for this hard working crowd. Indeed, nearly 30 persons willingly stayed into the evening. What drove such dedication? Electric-powered aircraft.
The G-30 assembled to work at forming the Electric Aircraft Development Alliance (EADA), a brand new industry organization specifically aimed at electric-powered aircraft. Representatives came from Sikorsky, Yuneec, Pipistrel, Sonex, Alternair, Electra One, Cessna, Bye Aerospace, Lockwood Aircraft, Embry Riddle, FAA, EASA, LAMA, and others. LEAP, the Lindbergh organization, lent energy to help assemble the group and, indeed, they drew a number of people that had not traveled to Tampa, Florida for the ASTM meeting.
Passion was on display as individuals spoke strongly about the need for an industry organization and how to bring it to reality. The brain trust in the meeting saw many potential applications for electric power from leisure aviation to military (for duties such as surveillance) to air transport. Yet for now, the focus is on Light-Sport Aircraft and on true Part 103 ultralights, the latter being viable electric aircraft today. Yes, you can go out and buy and fly a pure electric Part 103 ultralight now from Electra Flyer. Does it seem too far out to you, especially those readers that will not consider an ultralight?
Perhaps, but celebrated developer Calin Gologan grasped the charm and appeal of Part 103 and stated that he plans to bring a legal Part 103 Electra One — with batteries counted in the tight 254-pound limit and meeting Part 103's speed and other parameters — possibly by May 2012. I quizzed him to be sure he meant total empty weight of 254 pounds includes the battery. He did and this will deliver a 20-minute flight under power. However, with a great glide (30:1) and with solar collectors to recharge the batteries, 20 minutes of power could yield hours of flying. Now this aircraft will be a more expensive choice (beyond $100,000) but it is different than most Part 103 aircraft as it has a full fuselage and enclosure plus composite structure. Even a small number of buyers would allow Gologan to collect data valuable to further prove the electric concept to regulators and others.
Calin observed that while battery development continues, airframe and motor investigations should continue. Assuming batteries evolve that store plenty of power and charge quickly, it would be a shame if the aircraft or if regulation development fell behind and had to be rushed once the batteries were ready. Thus, Calin feels these should be parallel investigations perhaps compared to the great chef who prepares a meal such that it can be served at one time.
Part 103 aircraft require no pilot license, no medical, and no N-numbers. Aircraft can be sold ready to fly. A few buyers intrigued by electric flight could choose the Part 103 Electra One and enjoy high-tech electric-powered flying in a "real" aircraft in the very near term. Those early adopters would be contributing to the development of electric airplanes. It's an exciting time in aviation.
Third Quarter 2011 LSA Market Report; Cessna Jumps
Sure enough, by several measures and based on multiple conversations, 2011 is shaping up to be a better year than 2010. Of course, that's not saying much as all of aviation worldwide was slow last year and in 2009. When you're near the bottom of the well, everything starts looking up.
With those thoughts in mind, we present the newest market share report, this one through the third quarter of 2011. In recent years we've had folks tell us we ought to show charts of this year's or this quarter's performance. But most readers want to know the "installed base," to borrow a phrase from the trend-setting tech industry. When people talk about Windows versus Apple market share or iOS versus Android, they generally mean how many of all buyers have those systems.
Nonetheless, we recognize pilots are hungry for more recent info. So for several years, we have discussed near-term performance in the text of our articles even while we present a graphic showing FAA N-number registrations since the beginning. The nearby chart has become a staple of this industry used by all sorts of people: other airframe producers, avionics and other equipment manufacturers, insurance companies, FAA, and member organizations.
For the last nine months, Cessna is far and away the leader, with 140 registrations logged in 2011. The Wichita giant once boasted of nearly 1,000 Skycatcher customers and they have been fulfilling those orders with increasing speed. Following them is CubCrafters with 29 registrations this year so far. Other top producers include CSA's SportCruiser (20), Flight Design (17), and Jabiru USA (8).
One new arrival in the top 20 is Arion and their Lightning (6 in 2011). Another up and comer is Pipistrel, fresh from their third-in-a-row victory at the NASA Green Challenge. For all other companies, 2011 has continued the very sluggish sales pace of 2008, '09, and '10. Notice: As always, we observe for you that all numbers here are derived from FAA's N-number registration database. These figures are not identical to sales logged by the companies although, over time, the numbers get closer.
A few kit producers deserve mention even though we struggle to count these numbers accurately due to confusion by entry clerks regarding the fuzzy distinctions between kit ELSA, amateur-built kits, and ELSA converted from two-place ultralights (the latter being, by far, the largest single component of what are called Light-Sport Aircraft in America). Nonetheless with 132 FAA N-number registrations, Van's Aircraft and their RV-12 earned our attention. Rans is another significant kit producer of aircraft meeting all parameters of Light-Sport Aircraft — the Kansas company also sells SLSA and ELSA versions of some models.
Cessna's rise to the #2 slot from the #8 place at the beginning of the year pushed everyone else down. Onetime #2 producer American Legend now finds itself in #5 with 5 new registrations in 2011.
Yet the top 10 have remained remarkably stable, and indeed, they account for more than 70% of all SLSA fixed wing airplanes delivered since day one in April 2005.