Will sport planes interfere with commercial airliners and private jets?
No. Firstly, the FAA requires Sport Pilots to be trained to understand, recognize and stay clear of congested airspace. Secondly, the same ATC mechanisms apply to ensure adequate traffic separation, warning, and avoidance for fast, commercial, or jet operations in and around controlled airports. Lastly, the A5 will be equipped with an intuitive GPS navigation system that will allow Sport Pilots to clearly see and avoid controlled airspace.
Is 20 hours enough training to pilot a plane?
Yes. Sport Pilots still get the required level of training needed for the conditions they’re allowed to fly in – daytime, good weather, uncontrolled airspace. In fact, Sport Pilots are receiving training more specifically tailored for their recreational flying needs. Some would argue that the Sport Pilot training may actually be a safer, better suited initial training program since it’s focused more on basic airmanship and good visual flying skills over transportation-focused systems management.
Are seaplanes more difficult to fly?
Not necessarily, just a little different. Seaplanes require some additional knowledge and understanding of operating in a marine environment; however, they are surprisingly easy to learn. And in some ways, landing a seaplane can be easier. One of the biggest challenges for landing on land is the necessity to do so on a designated landing strip of relatively small size. When it comes to landing on water, the available landing area is usually very large. Landing can be performed in many directions without needing to worry about hitting an exact landing zone or dealing with crosswind landings.
How does the parachute work?
The Complete Airplane Parachute technology is a fairly simple technology that has been on the market for over 20 years and has been credited with over 200 saves. The parachute is housed inside the frame of the aircraft and is rocket-deployed by simply pulling a lever in the cockpit during an unexpected loss of control, complete aircraft failure, or other in-flight emergencies. The parachute fully deploys in seconds and essentially stops the aircraft and lowers the light aircraft to the ground under canopy.
Isn’t landing with a parachute dangerous?
Under certain circumstances it may be the safest option. While the landing is relatively safe for the occupants, typically the aircraft sustains moderate structural damage upon touchdown. This phenomenal technology is a perfect match for Light Sport Aircraft since the ideal speed range to deploy the parachute is 80-120 mph, which is the same limited operating range for Light Sport Aircraft.
Is an airplane that has folding wings safe to fly?
Yes. U.S. Navy wingfold technology has safely been around for decades as a proven and reliable technology with an extremely low risk of failure. ICON has optimized the basic wingfold technology and carefully designed it so that it only operates on ground and water when not flying. Additionally, the wingfold mechanism is designed so that the folding elements are separated from the structural elements for carrying flight loads.
What happens when a Sport Pilot gets caught in bad weather?
First, there is no new risk here. This risk for Sport Pilots is the same for traditional Private Pilots who might also fly into weather without an instrument rating or instrument-equipped aircraft. Second, all pilots (Sport Pilots and Private Pilots) are trained in weather recognition and avoidance. The probability of this happening by accident is extremely low.
What happens when Sport Pilot gets caught flying in darkness?
The likelihood of darkness suddenly surprising a pilot is virtually zero. The sun sets gradually, and even once the sun has gone down, there is still up to 30 minutes of remaining sunlight that enables the pilot to legally fly and land safely. Additionally, when it’s dark, the lights on the ground can still provide a point of reference, and the lights of an airport visually guide pilots to landing.
Didn’t Cessna quit making small planes due to lawsuits?
Yes, for a time Cessna did suspend small plane manufacturing due to product liability costs, which contributed to a severe downturn in the general aviation industry. In response, the government reduced the liability exposure by passing the GARA Act (General Aviation Revitalization Act) in 1994. That law limited product liability with general aviation aircraft after 18 years from original production date, which enabled the industry to recover, improving insurance coverage options and managing costs for manufacturers and aircraft owners.
What is ICON doing to ensure safety?
Airplanes today are safer than ever before, yet ICON’s philosophy is to be at the forefront of safety by establishing an uncompromised safety standard at every step of design and production. ICON’s world-class team of engineers designed the ICON A5 to be predictable and easy to fly with safety features such as a patent-pending Propeller Guard and optional, quick deploying Complete Airplane Parachute so pilots can fly with peace of mind.
Can the MP3 in-flight music feature distract a pilot?
No. The external audio from the MP3 player is engineered in a way to mute during any flight radio communications. When there is no radio chatter, the features allow the pilot and his passenger to enjoy their experience with music of their choice.
Aren’t all LSA’s designed to be easy to fly?
While the spirit of the FAA LSA regulations was to ensure all LSA’s are simple and easy to fly, there are various degrees of predictable, safe and docile flying characteristics. ICON has placed high priority and emphasis on this during the development from day one.