...And Here, Darn it, Are The Heartbreakers

It is both the most "fun," and most difficult task, facing the ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days... while also chastising those people or entities that did all they could to undermine the many successes the aerospace community has managed to accomplish.

Alas, 2007 saw more than its fair share of downers, aviation-wise. Sure, "stuff" happens... but a few folks, issues, or entities seemed to go out of their way to create problems for the world of aviation.

So... it is ANN's annual obligation to recognize a solid dozen of our Aero-Heartbreakers for 2007... in something of an informal order, starting from 12th to the 1st. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included, or omitted, from such a list. In the meantime, we hope those who had something to do with this year's selections think a little more positively about the welfare of this industry, so that future lists become harder and harder to catalog. Be it ignorance, arrogance or just plain incompetence, these were the folks or topics that made our lot a whole lot more difficult and immeasurably injured the aviation world in the past year.

Shame on those issues, folks or topics that made our lot so much tougher in 2007...

From the Heartbreaker's List #12: Sky-High LSA Costs

Much has been written about the need to bring "new blood" into the aviation business... how we need (desperately) new pilots and a way to provide ready access to the freedom of the skies for all those who have dreamed of playing among the clouds. We truly need a cost-effective path for people to follow, in order to stretch their wings... but to be honest, we're not sure that $100-130K LSAs are the ticket we've been looking for.

LSAs, simply put, cost too much. An LSA, according to many, should cost as much as a decent new automobile... but not as much as an entry-level home or condo. Mind you, there are a number of "popular" LSA-type birds out there that don't cost as much as a house... but most of them are not conventional planforms or are somewhat less well-equipped than the more costly offerings. So... is there a middle ground?

Hard to say... because the major problem inherent in making airplanes cost effective to build and buy relies on the issue of being able to sell sufficient numbers to make it more cost-effective to build less-expensive airplanes... in other words, a cart and horse argument.

Until someone comes up with a more efficient manufacturing process or a design that lends itself to same, we may be stuck with more expensive LSAs (and a limited market)... at least until enough of them get build for there to be a healthy secondary market for used LSAs. In the meantime, we watch the struggling market with great anticipation to see if one or more designs can either find a way to present a more uniquely appealing value proposition (in other words something that makes people "GOTTA HAVE IT") or a means by which their aircraft can be brought to market at lower prices. So far... it hasn't arrived, though a number of industry watchers look forward, with great anticipation, to see what Cessna and Cirrus Design's efforts will bring in the coming years. 

FMI: You tell us, are the costs of LSAs breaking YOUR heart?