Rules Allow Aircraft To Be Assembled At Facilities Other Than The Main Factory

Quicksilver is set to offer its Sport 2S as a ready-to-fly SLSA aircraft, and has established two remote assembly locations; one in Minnesota and one in Louisiana.

According to Light-Sport Aircraft regulations, a manufacturer such as Quicksilver Aeronautics may create “extensions,” which are manufacturing locations other than the headquarters factory. A manufacturer is charged with maintaining full quality control over these extensions but such remote operations put manufacturing much closer to customers.

While any LSA manufacturer can pursue this method, no other company has yet opened such facilities making Quicksilver a pioneer in this regard. Van’s Aircraft uses Synergy Air to fully build RV-12 SLSA, but uses only that one location at present.

Longtime sales director Todd Ellefson will become a dealer in Rochester, Minnesota and will continue supporting the Quicksilver factory in technical matters. Ellefson's dealership will be certified as an assembly center for the Sport 2S SLSA in order to better serve customers in North-Central USA.

Along with Minnesota, an assembly center for Special LSA will also be established in Louisiana. That facility will be managed by Beaver Borne. Additional assembly centers will be established as demand requires.

At a news conference at Sun 'n Fun Wednesday, Quicksilver Aeronautics President Will Escutia said that the SLSA designation will allow the aircraft to be used for revenue-generating operations such as flight instruction and agricultural spraying.

Escutia also introduced Cesar Diaz (pictured) as the company's new Sales Director. “Cesar will become the main point of contact with dealers on a regular basis,” Escutia said.

“While I am not yet a pilot I have a very good knowledge of the products and the light aircraft market,” said Diaz. “I look forward to working with many Quicksilver dealers in the United States and in countries around the world.”

Quicksilver Aeronautics has more than 15,000 aircraft flying in nearly 100 countries so Mr. Diaz’s capabilities will be an asset. He is fluent in Spanish, Chinese, and English, and has studied French and Italian. He attended Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China and spent one year in Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Diaz has worked extensively in China, a country in which many aviation companies are investing significant resources. Diaz is an economist with a Masters Degree in Quality with international experience in sales, business development and international trade for a Fortune 500 company. Escutia said this background will help Diaz as Quicksilver sets a new course.

(Images provided by Quicksilver)

FMI: www.quicksilveraircraft.com