Petition favours landing-gear system for amphibian
Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) is confident of securing a US Federal Aviation Administration exemption allowing it to install a repositionable gear system in its Mermaid – the first amphibian to comply with new US light-sport aircraft (LSA) rules.
CZAW flew its first production-conforming two-seat, Rotax 912ULS-powered Mermaid for the first time in May, but submitted a petition for a special airworthiness certificate in advance of the FAA formally consulting on changing the rules to allow retraction and extension of the landing gear during flight.
In the petition, CZAW president Chip Erwin writes: “This exception is only for the short term until the forthcoming LSA rule amendment is in place. We would like to have our certification in advance, as waiting for the final rule would result in a significant delivery delay for our customers and loss in market momentum.”
Erwin says around 200 comments had been filed by the 24 January deadline, most in “overwhelming support” of the petition.
“The public has spoken and I was frankly shocked at how many people were interested in supporting this petition,” he says, adding that CZAW has now received 191 deposits for the $85,000 aircraft, an orderbook he expects will double after certification.
“The FAA suggested we write a petition and the comments in support of this change will make a big difference. While the notice of proposed rulemaking [NPRM] is completely independent of the petition, they will make sure the NPRM is written correctly,” says Erwin.
He expects a ruling on the petition soon. He adds that CZAW has now replaced the Rotax powerplant with a Jabaru 3300 engine.
AIMEE TURNER / LONDON
Source: Flight International
