Lisa Airplanes, developer of the Akoya amphibian, is planning to relocate the flight test campaign for the light sport aircraft, and has narrowed the choice of sites to three.
This decision has been prompted by the limited access to the Akoya’s current flight test base at Le Bourget du Lac, southeast France, which, it says, is hampering the aircraft’s certification effort.
“For several months of the year the lake is closed to us – including now – as it is used by the public for various water sports,” says Lisa’s marketing manager, Vanessa Troillard.
While she is remaining tight-lipped on the location of the proposed site, Troillard says the new base will give the Akoya flight-test team unfettered access to the water all-year-round. “We will make a decision soon, so flight testing can resume,” she says.
To date, Lisa has notched up more than 150 flying hours on the first of two Akoya test aircraft. One more prototype is planned.
Lisa Airplanes
The privately owned company has earmarked 2016 for certification of its Rotax 912-powered model.
“Once testing is under way at the new base, we aim to get [US American Society for Testing and Materials] approval within 18 to 24 months,” she adds. European S-LSA certification will follow later.
The company has secured around 100 deposits for the type to date, with the majority of demand so far coming from North America.
“The USA will be the largest market for Akoya,” Troillard admits. “However, we expect a lot of sales to come from Asia – particularly China – where the market for recreational GA aircraft is really opening up now.”
Lisa is owned by a Chinese investor, which could ease its foray into this country.
The private owner snapped up the company in 2013, after the financial crisis forced Lisa into receivership.
Troillard says the nine-year-old company is now fully funded and other projects are in the pipeline.
“We are looking at other, larger versions of the Akoya – from a four-seater to 10-seater,” she says. “We will see how the two-seater version is received before launching the next model.”
The €300,000 ($379,000) Akoya can operate from ground, water or snow. The aircraft is equipped with an emergency parachute, hydrofoils, skis and retractable landing gear. It has a projected range of 1,080nm (2,000km), a maximum speed of 135kt (250km/h) and consumes 5.6 litres (1.5USgal) of fuel per 100km.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
