After a fitful production start for the A5 light-sport aircraft, Icon Aircraft has regrouped. The company has built a composite factory in Mexico to “improve and control the manufacturing process while simultaneously reducing cost,” says Icon’s founder and CEO, Kirk Hawkins. While the new Tijuana-based composite shop is getting up and running, Icon has opened two training facilities for its A5 amphibian — one at its headquarters in Vacaville, California, and one in downtown Tampa, Florida. A third facility is expected to open soon at an undisclosed location in Texas.
Learning to Fly the Icon A5
Key Takeaways:
- Icon Aircraft has relocated its composite manufacturing to a new factory in Tijuana, Mexico, to improve production control, reduce costs, and address initial manufacturing challenges.
- The company is heavily investing in pilot training, opening multiple facilities and developing a military-inspired curriculum, as a significant portion of A5 deposit holders are non-pilots.
- This training-focused strategy, which includes using early production aircraft for instruction, aims to ensure customers are well-prepared and receive refined, high-quality A5s that incorporate lessons learned from early use.
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