LSA Maker Expands Regional Distributor Network

As sales in the Light-Sport Aircraft sector continue to show signs of life this year, Flight Design USA has announce new distributor representatives to its organization. In May 2013, the importer of the top-selling Flight Design CT series is pleased to welcome Flight Design South East LLC and Americana Aviation.

“We are very pleased to appoint Flight Design South East, operated by Walt Conlogue as the distributor for a territory including North and South Carolina, Virginia, northern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee,” said Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny. “Very well known in his community of Wilmington, North Carolina, Walt is a longtime aviation businessman who has been involved in the LSA sector since its beginning making him a particularly desirable candidate for our company.”

“After decades in the aviation business, we knew what it would take to have a good relationship between an LSA manufacturer, its distributors, and our company,” said Conlogue, a principal of Flight Design South East. “Foremost it was important that the manufacturer had years of experience in  building LSAs and enjoyed a significant portion of the U.S. market. After conducting our research, everything pointed to acquiring a relationship with Flight Design.”

“We also welcome Americana Aviation as a distributor,” said Peghiny. In south Florida, Americana has been an important dealer in south Florida, which tends to be the contact point for significant south American interest. “Chris Benaiges and Tony Alvarez are strong business people with complementary skill sets that should benefit the operation of a distributorship,” Peghiny said.

Flight Design distributors are tasked with ordering aircraft in multiples to support the dealerships in their territory. They also manage those dealers and coordinate service for customer. Both functions require stronger management and financial capabilities; Flight Design South East and Americana Aviation were found up to the task during the vetting process by Flight Design USA.

(Pictured: Top Walt Conlogue (R) and Jonathan Trunz of Flight Design South East LLC. Bottom, Chris Benaiges (L) and Tony Alvarez of Americana Aviation)

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com