The light sport aircraft mall at Sun ’n Fun this year has something besides new models: price cuts, according to Dan Johnson of bydanjohnson.com and the president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA). LAMA sponsored the light sport mall at Sun ‘n Fun, located just inside the main entrance.
Flight Design, the industry sales leader, is offering the CTLS Lite. By slightly trimming the equipment list and making other adjustments, the company was able to slice $20,000 off the price, coming in at $119,800, Johnson reports. The company also cut 50 pounds from the empty weight. Jabiru USA offers two models that are discounted for a short time. Taking $11,000 off the price of the J-170 brings the base to $85,900. With some nice equipment, it remains less than $95,000. The company's more spacious J–230 is offered at a base price of $97,900, or $105,000 for a well-equipped model. Johnson reports these other bargains on bydanjohnson.com: SeaMax, a well-equipped, performance amphibian for $140,000 range; Aerotrek, still holding at below $70,000 for the A220/A240; and the RANS S–6LS at $63,000. The low-price leader is the X-Air LS for $59,995.
European group to seek LSA parity with US
A group of light sport manufacturers gathered in Europe to form LAMA-EU, a unit of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association in Europe, at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany immediately before Sun ‘n Fun opened April 13. The multi-nation European Union is the source of more than 60 percent of all LSAs sold in the United States. The manufacturers group formed LAMA-EU to begin lobbying with the goal of pushing the European Aviation Safety Agency to adopt a description of light sport aircraft that is “1:1 like the USA.” While European regulations may differ from those in the United States or other countries, ASTM standards are already accepted as a means of certification in several countries with many more in various stages of acceptance. “By its actions as LAMA-EU, the industry hopes to restrain costly fees and charges demanded by EASA,” said Jan Fridrich, director of LAMA-EU.
Alton K. Marsh
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