Aims To Produce 500 Planes Per Year

One of the most prevalent manufacturers in the light sport aircraft (LSA) segment plans to become even bigger -- and recently moved into a new facility the company says will help make that plan a reality. Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) is now operational in its new, 120,000 square-foot facility in the Czech Republic.

Representatives with CZAW told ANN last week the company raised additional equity capital last summer to finance the expansion. In addition to more floor space, CZAW also added modern equipment, such as advanced CDC presses, and trained additional workers -- all with the intent to raise current production levels of approximately three planes per week, to five per week by later this spring.

"The key for any successful manufacturer is to have sufficient infrastructure to make a consistent, high-quality airplane," said CZAW President Chip Erwin, "and to prove that you're compliant, through actual engineering analysis plus complete structural load testing to destruction and flight testing."

To date, CZAW states it has shipped over 850 planes. The company's all-metal aircraft fleet is comprised of the amphibious Mermaid, the high-wing Parrot, and the rakish SportCruiser.

"We've designed these airplanes for serial production," Erwin said, "and we have skilled engineers, production, and documentation people already in place. The production ramp-up is not a 'future claim.' We're doing it, right now."

CZAW hopes to increase production to over 500 aircraft per year for worldwide distribution.

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