Light Sport Aircraft

Dan Johnson, the president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association and an expert on light sport aircraft, has written an interesting article for General Aviation News about whether or not there are too many LSAs. To first put things in perspective: Dan noted that there are now more than 114 FAA approved LSA models in the USA. Moreover, he noted that when one LSA maker fails, another importer can easily come in and fill the void. In addition, a failed LSA manufacturer can be purchased by someone else or their employees can form a whole new company and manufacture a similar model. Hence, Dan pointed out that such “scrappy” entrepreneurship is rarely seen in the general aviation industry but a high level of regulations still present a high barriers to entry into the industry.

However, Dan believes that not all of the current LSA manufacturers will survive and he expects that the top dozen or so will continue to sell the most aircraft. On the other hand, Dan also believes that many of the small niche industry players will also survive but the “me-too” companies who hope to sell in larger quantities may be in jeopardy.

Dan then posed the question of just how many LSAs are too many but then he quickly added:

The riddle has no answer unless you’d like to have your choices limited. I say that if a new company wants to offer you a neat, new flying machine, you should do your homework of checking it out, but having done so, enjoy the wide number of choices the LSA industry can provide.

After all, who has a crystal ball to know the next one isn’t going to be a big success story? Me? I like choices…lots of them, and the LSA industry has something for nearly everyone.

Hence, we want to ask you our readers, especially any LSA pilots out there, what you think of the current state of the LSA industry. Are there too many LSAs on the market right now? Moreover, what LSA manufacturers do you think will survive any coming industry shakeout?

AndrewS, the founder of Hopscotch Air who flies an LSA (the Sportcruiser), has just written an interesting post on the Let’s Go Flying blog about the recent audit report from the FAA on the LSA manufacturing industry which is setting off alarm bells to the point where even Dan Johnson, the chairman of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, said it was “tough love.” However, Andrew further added that he thinks the report is a bit more ominous than that.

Apparently, the FAA audited 30 LSA facilities to determine if they are complying with ASTM standards (the ASTM is an independent group that various industries use to set standards for their products) as under current rules, if an LSA meets these standards, it can then be sold to the American public – without government certifications. However, the FAA determined that most of the thirty facilities audited could not establish that their aircraft met the standards and that they have failed to implement basic internal controls and don’t full understand FAA regulations. The report concluded that the FAA needs to increase its oversight of the LSA industry.

Andrew then pointed out that the FAA and the NTSB do not have any issues (so far) with the safety record of LSAs but then again, there aren’t many flying right now. However, all it will take is one or two serious accidents that would then lead to a significant government crackdown and new regulations. Hence, Andrew concluded that the LSA industry must immediately answer all of the FAA’s concerns that if the LSA industry “cannot instill it’s own adult supervision, we all know the government will do it for it.”

Hence, we want to know what you our readers think of the LSA industry. Does the LSA industry really need to clean up its act and if so, can it do it on its own? Or does it just need more “adult supervision”?

The Aviation Consumer Magazine has recently made an interesting observation about light sport aircraft (LSAs) and their prices in particular. According to them:

Some think the combination of lighter, cheaper airframes and simpler pilot certification will yield a boom in private flying. We think it’s reasonable to say that almost everyone thought this, but if you now think the boom sounds more like a faint squeak, you aren’t alone. The LSA groundswell has yet to form and judging by comments from our readers and video viewers, the cost of the airplanes has something to do with it. Maybe a lot to do with it.

It was further noted that would-be buyers say as much (We would further add that much of the world has just gone through the worst recession in generations). However, Aviation Consumer Magazine also noted that real buyers want “tricked out cockpits and big-airplane options.” Hence, US$120,000 is about average for an LSA.

Thus, we would like to ask our readers what they think of LSAs. Are LSAs overhyped and overpriced? Or perhaps its the recession that has prevented their takeoff? We would love to hear what LSA and general aviation pilots think.

In recent years, light sport aircraft or LSAs have gained in popularity as sport pilot licenses require less training and hence, are more affordable to obtain. Moreover, LSA are more affordable to operate in light of gyrating fuel prices and other cost associated with other general aviation aircraft. However, just how safe are LSAs?

A recent article in General Aviation News by Dan Johnson noted:

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.

In 2007, a year of high sales and activity, the industry experienced five crashes and eight fatalities. All other years had half that or less.

The bulletin mentioned by Dan was issued November 7th on variants of Zodiac CH601XL and CH650 airplanes due to several in-flight structural failures. Zenith Aircraft Co., the plane’s manufacturer, has responded by developing an upgrade package to address the concerns outlined in the SAIB.

Nevertheless, Dan comes to the conclusion that “while every loss is tragic to family and friends, LSA fatalities are not bad.” (Then again, it should also be noted that Dan is in the LSA business)

However and as we have noted in the past, LSAs seem to have an image problem as being a plane for “old men”:

Show up to any LSA event and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about– those in the cockpits, asking the questions, and working the controls are 70 year old pilots who see an LSA as their only way to keep flying and avoid spending all their money on golf.

Hence, what do you think? Are LSAs a safety risk or are there perhaps some safety issues involving those who fly them?

This month, Popular Mechanics had an interesting article where writer David Noland asked: “Who’s Klling the Electric Plane?” Noland begins his piece by mentioning (with some irony) that while the USA government will attempt to jumpstart the electric car industry by providing US$2.4 billion in research funds, funding for electric aircraft is being held back. 

Why? Apparently, FAA rules prohibit electric motors in light sport aircraft (LSA) because this class of aircraft is typically flown by less experienced pilots. Hence, LSAs in the USA can only be powered by reciprocating engines and this rule is thwarting the sale of electric airplanes in the USA. The article quotes the FAA’s Steve Flanagan (who helped write the LSA rules) as saying:

“We’re reluctant to introduce new technology on a less experienced pilot population. We need to get some more flight experience with electric motors.”

Certainly a logical point of view if you are a bureaucrat and perhaps from a safety standpoint but I am not so sure whether now is the time we want to kill innovation in the aviation sector given the state of the economy (and not to mention, growing concerns about the environment and aviation’s impact on it).

Anyway, Noland’s article also takes a look at a few innovative electric planes such as the Boeing Demonstrator, the Electravia Alatus and the Sonex e-Flight that are unavailable to sport pilots under the current FAA rules plus his article has already had a number of interesting posted comments – including several anti-FAA comments plus some additional comments about LSAs and biofuels in general that are worth reading.