LSA Competitors Part Ways

Aero-News has learned that two powerhouses in the emerging light sport aircraft industry have agreed to terminate a longstanding license agreement. Chris Heintz, president of Zenair Ltd. and Chip Erwin, CEO of Czech Aircraft Works, announced Monday that as of December 31, 2006 Zenair's Zodiac CH 601 and STOL CH 701 light aircraft will no longer be produced in the Czech Republic for the European market.

That means starting in 2007, the all-metal STOL CH 701 and Zodiac CH 601 (above) will no longer be produced and sold by Czech Aircraft Works... but will instead be available across Europe through the Zenair dealer network, with kits coming from Zenith Aircraft Company in Missouri and assembled aircraft from Zenair Ltd.

Czech Aircraft Works will continue manufacturing the Heintz designs through 2006, and will also continue to provide spare parts and technical support to its existing customers.

Heintz originally entered into a license agreement with Czech Aircraft Works of Stare Mesto, Czech Republic in the 90s, to produce and market his two aircraft designs for the European market. The Czech-produced Zodiacs were modified and lightened to meet European rules for "microlight" aircraft, with CZAW ultimately producing some 750 such machines under this agreement.

Of course, the playing field has changed since then... with Czech Aircraft Works designing and developing its own line of light aircraft in direct competition with Zenair's planes in the light sport aircraft category -- the amphibious Mermaid (above), the high-winged Parrot (we're still waiting to hear what its new name will be) and the SportCruiser. Both parties stress those aircraft are not affiliated in any way with Heintz, the designer and engineer responsible for the entire line of Zenair aircraft.

In the United States, Heintz's designs are manufactured in kit form by Zenith Aircraft Company, and as factory-produced Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) by Aircraft Manufacturing and Development Co. in Georgia; while Czech Aircraft Works designs are produced in the Czech Republic, and imported by Sport Aircraft Works of Indiantown, FL..

FMI: www.zenithair.com, www.newplane.com, www.airplane.cz,www.sportaircraftworks.com