Briefing: January 2014

Another light-sport amphibian has entered the field, this one from Vickers, a New Zealand company. The Wave, an Icon look-alike with a Lycoming IO-360 engine, will sell for under $180,000, the company said, and will be available for sale at EAA AirVenture in 2014. Kit manufacturer Vans Aircraft has a second batch of ready-to-fly RV-12s in production by partner Synergy Air, in Eugene, Ore. The first batch of 12 was announced a year ago and sold out the first day. The LSA version sells for $123,000, fully equipped, or $115,000 for the base model.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The light-sport aircraft market is seeing new developments with Vickers introducing the Wave amphibian and Van's Aircraft continuing production of its popular RV-12, alongside the emergence of innovative concepts like Zee Aero's potential electric VTOL "flying car."
The Reno Air Races are facing severe financial hardship, needing a half-million dollars to cover expenses, primarily due to "oppressive" insurance premiums and losses sustained since a fatal crash in 2011.
The FAA has unilaterally implemented a controversial new policy requiring pilots with a high BMI to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea, leading to immediate grounding if detected and strong opposition from pilot advocacy groups like EAA and AOPA, who criticize the policy's arbitrary nature and lack of formal rulemaking.

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Another light-sport amphibian has entered the field, this one from Vickers, a New Zealand company. The Wave, an Icon look-alike with a Lycoming IO-360 engine, will sell for under $180,000, the company said, and will be available for sale at EAA AirVenture in 2014. Kit manufacturer Van’s Aircraft has a second batch of ready-to-fly RV-12s in production by partner Synergy Air, in Eugene, Ore. The first batch of 12 was announced a year ago and sold out the first day. The LSA version sells for $123,000, fully equipped, or $115,000 for the base model.

Organizers of the Reno Air Races, a popular and unique event since 1964, have run into financial difficulties. In an open letter posted online in November, Reno Air Racing Association President Mike Houghton said the group needed to raise a half-million dollars by December 15 to meet expenses, including “oppressive” insurance premiums. RARA already has made “agonizing” cuts in staff, Houghton said. The races have lost money for the last three years, since the crash of Jimmy Leeward’s P-51D, which killed 11 and injured 69 in September 2011. Houghton said the board of directors and the bylaws are being restructured.