Reacting to a public backlash that erupted after Icon Aircraft began circulating a 40-page purchase agreement that the company asked buyers of the A5 light sport amphibian to sign before they took delivery of their new airplanes, the California manufacturer has replaced the contract with a far simpler document that removes nearly all of the most onerous requirements contained in the original. Icon also announced a major reduction in production for 2016, from 175 airplanes originally scheduled to roll out of the factory to 20.
Icon Throws Out Controversial Purchase Agreement
Key Takeaways:
- Icon Aircraft replaced its controversial 40-page A5 purchase agreement with a simpler 11-page document, eliminating highly restrictive clauses like a 30-year life limit, mandatory cockpit recorders, and resale restrictions due to public backlash.
- Despite the simplification, the revised contract retains requirements such as waivers of liability for non-NTSB-attributed crashes, mandatory factory-approved maintenance, and flight data recorders (with expanded privacy).
- Icon also significantly cut its 2016 A5 production target from 175 to 20 aircraft, attributing the reduction to an "overly aggressive" schedule and the need to improve manufacturing quality and efficiency.
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