A brief query to the WABAC machine unearthed this gem on light sport aircraft from the Aviation Consumer archive: “Some think the combination of lighter, cheaper airframes and simpler pilot certification will yield a boom in private flying.” We think its reasonable to say that almost everyone thought this, but if you now think the boom sounds more like a faint squeak, you arent alone. The LSA groundswell has yet to form and judging by comments from our readers and video viewers, the cost of the airplanes has something to do with it. Maybe a lot to do with it. “Why are LSAs so $%#@*! expensive,” wrote one reader, after we reviewed the American Legend Cub on amphib floats (retail: $159,000) for our April 2010 issue. Its a fair question and one thats not too difficult to answer with two observations: One, they arent that expensive when compared to larger certified aircraft and, two, although the industry never said as much, the notion of the $40,000 LSA somehow became embedded in the consciousness of some buyers and continues to form the cost/value perception for many would-be LSA customers. To this, we would add a third market reality: The top five LSA sellers-Flight Design, American Legend, Tecnam, Remos and CubCrafters are not down-market offerings. Typical prices are north of $125,000 and some are we’ll above that. This proves what aircraft manufacturers and BMW dealers have known for years: the cheap seats arent big sellers.
the State of Play
In phoning sources in the industry, we conclude that no one really had a sense of how fast the LSA market would grow, which may be a good thing, given that it hasnt exactly exploded. On the other hand, it hasnt done so badly, either, especially in the context of a terrible economy.
As of March 2010, about 1750 LSAs have been sold in the U.S., basically since about 2005 when the LSA rule was finalized. During the same period, U.S. manufacturers delivered about 10,700 piston aircraft, so LSA represents about 17 percent of additional market for piston GA. That may not be revolutionary, but its more than credible, in our view. On the pilot certification side, market penetration is less impressive. About 2000 sport pilot certificates have been issued, according to the FAA, a little over 3 percent of the 580,000 U.S. airman file.