AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2011 - 63

planes, but did not to say exactly what the differences were. “After a year working with Czech Sport Aircraft, Piper determined that it is in our company’s best long-term interests to discontinue the business relationship,” said Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger. “Clearly, the company has a different business perspective and approach to the market than Czech Sport Aircraft.” Piper had scoured the LSA market for many months before choosing the former SportCruiser, rebranding it, and setting up a worldwide distribution network. Piper officials said they never had any doubts about the airplane itself, or its performance. Competitively, Piper appeared to have beaten rivals Cessna and Cirrus to the punch in the LSA market with the PiperSport. Cirrus had long since halted its efforts to bring a sport airplane to market, and Cessna was running into repeated and frustrating delays setting up SkyCatcher production in China. Piper marketed its airplane as a twenty-first century reinvention of the iconic Cub, a pilot’s aircraft that would bring back the joy and simplicity of flying. Meanwhile, Piper tried to steer flight training customers to the rugged and time-tested PA–28 Archer and twinengine PA–44 Seminole for that purpose. PiperSport dealers had sold about 45 airplanes in 2010. The group has banded together to form the U.S. SportCruiser Dealers Association and plans to continue promoting, selling, and supporting the airplane it calls the Cadillac of the LSA market. The Czech factory intends to continue producing new airplanes, honoring warranties, and providing replacement parts. “The only thing that changes is the name,” said Fleming, who learned to fly at age 16 and is a veteran instructor. “Piper brought a recognized brand, but it also brought costs. I don’t think Piper’s actions are going to matter at all to my students.” While showing off the features of the PiperSport, Fleming’s cell phone rang. It was the general manager of another aircraft manufacturer offering Fleming a dealership as an East Coast representative for a separate line of LSAs. Fleming said the call came as a complete surprise and smiled. He’d have to take some time to consider the offer. “Whenever one door closes,” Fleming said, “another one opens.” E-mail the author at dave.hirschman@ aopa.org.
AOPA PILOT • 63 • MARCH 2011

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2011