Building Support Network For Popular LSA

Flight Design USA tells ANN it has in the last year graduated 23 technicians, distributors, and dealers from its engine and airframe training classes -- including nine recent additions to its support network.

The group of Flight Design personnel -- which included Flight Design USA's National Sales Manager, Ken Godin -- recently wrapped up a weeklong class at Aero Technical Institute in Sebring, FL focusing on the Rotax 912 engine and the CTsw airframe.

"I learned a great deal from this week-long class," Godin said. "By the end, I feel completely certain that I received training to, for example, remove a CT from its overseas shipping container and fully assemble and check it out for delivery to a customer."

With 21 percent of the US light sport aircraft sales market, Flight Design is taking steps to bolster its support network.

Flight Design president Tom Peghiny tells ANN he feels his company is not only ahead in the sale of LSA aircraft to the United States, but that he is doing all he can to assure distributors, dealers, and their mechanics are capably schooled in the composite aircraft.

Flight Design of Germany also has a systemwide program of assuring the right level of training has been given before technicians perform work on CT aircraft. As ANN reported, the program -- called "One Step Ahead" -- was revealed to media and the public at Lakeland 2007. Under the program, technicians can qualify at three levels of expertise and are able to work on increasing portions of their airplane once suitably trained.

"As the LSA community develops its infrastructure in America, Flight Design is proud to lead the industry in training efforts," said Matthias Betsch, CEO of Flight Design GmbH.

Flight Design reports over 1,000 aircraft have been delivered since the CT's introduction in 1997. Based on the latest available sales numbers, the Flight Design CTsw is the top-selling light-sport aircraft in the USA -- a position it has held since its 2005 introduction to the US market.

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com