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 addressed early production challenges and quality issues for its A5 light-sport aircraft by moving composite manufacturing to a new factory in Tijuana, Mexico, aiming for improved control and cost efficiency.
- The company has strategically opened multiple flight training facilities across the U.S. to educate a significant portion of its deposit holders who are non-pilots, ensuring they are proficient before taking delivery.
- Icon's A5 training program is uniquely designed, drawing inspiration from military flight philosophies, emphasizing practical water-based flying, and prioritizing a "fun factor" while also allowing for the refinement of early production models.
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