BRENDAN SOBIE / LAKELAND, FLORIDA
New category allows manufacturers to complete ultra-light aircraft
Kitplane manufacturers are preparing factory-produced versions of their products for the US market in anticipation of the Federal Aviation Administration's new light-sport aircraft category.
If the category is created as proposed by the FAA (Flight International 12-18 February), kitplane manufacturers could for the first time sell fully assembled aircraft in the USA. Several foreign firms are hoping to take advantage of the new rule to offer US customers designs they now produce as finished aircraft for other markets, but can only sell as kits in the USA.
Under the proposed rule, two-seat, single-piston, fixed-gear light- sport aircraft could be flown by holders of a new sport pilot certificate. Manufacturers will not be required to certificate their aircraft, but will have to demonstrate that they meet a consensus design standard to be agreed by the FAA and industry, such as Europe's existing JAR-VLA category.
Non-US manufacturers are leading the push to secure business from the new category. The UK's Europa Aircraft, Australia's Jabiru Aircraft and Italian firms Alpi Aviation, Sky Arrow and Tecnam all displayed aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA's) Sun 'n' Fun air show earlier this month in Lakeland, Florida, that could qualify for the light-sport category. The new category covers single-engined, two-seat aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 560kg (1,230lb).
Europa sales director Mark Waite says the company could revise its XS kitplane for the new category, which will require slowing down the aircraft as the FAA has proposed a maximum cruise speed of 87kt (160km/h), raising this to 115kt after extra pilot training.
The new variant is likely to be assembled by Slingsby Aviation, which already produces the XS wing and fuselage. The new aircraft is expected to boost Europa's US sales, which now account for about one-third of the 300 kits it has already produced.
Jabiru is also hoping to boost its US sales, with only 30 of its 600aircraft now flying in the USA. Jabiru offers European customers finished aircraft that are assembled in South Africa.
Managing director Phil Ainsworth says the manufacturer is considering opening similar facilities in Australia, New Zealand or the USA if the US market takes off.
Jabiru has developed a new variant for the US market based on its J200 model. The new J250, which will be launched once the final regulations are published, has a longer wingspan than the J200, to meet the speed requirements.
Alpi designer Carado Rusalem says the company has delivered only four kits in the USA, but hopes the sport category will open up opportunities for its Pioneer 200. Only the larger Pioneer 300 is now available in the USA, but Alpi hopes to demonstrate the 200 at the EAA's Oshkosh show in July and to certificate the aircraft under the new FAA sport category.
Tecnam's US dealer Pacific Aerosystems' operations manager Wayne Johnson says the Sky Arrow 560, Tecnam P92-JS and Tecnam P62 Seasky should qualify under the new light-sport category. These products are offered as factory-built aircraft in Europe, but they can only be sold as kits in the USA.
US makers are also gearing up for the change. Idaho-based SkyStar Aircraft has already added a new model to its Kitfox line, called Sport, specifically tailored to the new sport category.
Essentially, the Sport is a Kitfox Series 7 with fixed gear, as retractable gear is prohibited in the new category. SkyStar account manager Joe Brewer says "we're just waiting for the final rule" before starting production.
Zenith Aircraft is also ready to begin assembling for US customers the Zodiac 701 and 601XL. The Missouri-based firm already offers European customers finished aircraft that are assembled in the Czech Republic and the 701 and 601XL already meet the propose sport-category qualifications, according to production manager Nicholas Heintz.
Pulsar Aircraft president Solly Melyon says the Pulsar XP already qualifies for the category, while a new LS (light-sport) variant has been developed in anticipation of the FAA rule change. Pulsar has built 850 kits, including 500 XPs, with half of its sales in Europe.
Source: Flight International
