Light Sport Airplanes Descend On AOPA Headquarters
A new generation of
aircraft from around the world converged on AOPA headquarters at
the Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland Monday during a special
light sport aircraft event. Airplanes made in Italy, Australia, the
Czech Republic, and America lined AOPA's ramp, ready for
demonstration flights.
"AOPA represents pilots and owners, from airline pilots to J-3
Cub owners, and we are here to keep their flying safe, fun, and
affordable," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "These airplanes open
a wider door into general aviation flying. They cater not only to
new students who are looking for a more affordable way to learn to
fly but also to veteran pilots who may want to get back to the joys
of flying a simple, easy-to-handle airplane."
The event, organized in conjunction with the Light Aircraft
Manufacturers Association (LAMA), was designed to help AOPA
staffers become better acquainted with this new category of
aircraft — knowledge they'll put to use in their ongoing
advocacy and education efforts on behalf of all general aviation
pilots and aircraft owners. The gathering also helped manufacturers
and representatives get a better understanding of the many assets
that AOPA can provide to their customers — the owners and
pilots of these planes.
"It's clear that pilots who fly light sport aircraft have
critical interests in common with every other GA pilot -- like
access to airports, airspace, and air traffic services," said
Boyer. "By understanding what this new group of airplanes and
pilots has in common with more traditional GA, and what is
different, AOPA can better serve this exciting new segment."
Throughout the morning, AOPA staffers had the chance to get
close to the airplanes, examining the cockpits and taking
demonstration flights. Their conclusion? These are very much "real"
airplanes, many with very affordable purchase and operating
costs.
In the afternoon, members of the AOPA management team met with
representatives of the aircraft companies to discuss the best ways
for the two groups to work together on behalf of their mutual
customers — airplane pilots and owners.
Representatives from the aircraft companies discussed how to
help owners and pilots obtain financing and affordable insurance
for these airplanes. "They [buyers] want to change a $100 hamburger
into a $35 hamburger," one distributor explained.
The group also focused on the importance of high-quality
training and establishing a positive safety track record from the
outset. AOPA Air Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce
Landsberg, who flew many of the aircraft that came to AOPA, pointed
out that, as with other general aviation aircraft, pilot error is
more likely to be the cause of an accident than the aircraft
itself.
Participating companies included B Bar D Aviation, Flightstar
Sportsplanes, IndUS Aviation, Kappa Aircraft, Rollison LSA,
Sportair USA, Legend Aircraft, Jabiru USA, Tecnam, Sport Aircraft
International, and Sports Planes.
Pilots who want to see these and other light sport aircraft for
themselves should plan to visit the expansive flight line at AOPA
Expo 2005, November 3 through 5, at the Peter O. Knight Airport and
Tampa Convention Center in Tampa.