Flight Training - December 2019 - 56

FINALLY!
A CARD
FOR PILOTS.

ADVANCED PILOT OPINION

DANGEROUS
MARKETING VIDEOS?
LOW-TIME PILOTS WITH MORE MONEY THAN SENSE?
ICON'S ACCIDENTS AREN'T WHAT YOU THINK
BY DAVE HIRSCHMAN

4%

Cash Back1 Select
AOPA Purchases
CASH BACK1 APPLIED AS STATEMENT CREDIT.

Switch today to the
new AOPA credit card,
and stop paying too
much on your
aviation purchases.

Icon delivered 44 A5s in 2018 and 28
by midyear 2019, according to General
Aviation Manufacturers Association
shipment reports.

EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST ICON ACCIDENT,

Visit

AOPA.org/creditcard
to learn more

*Certain points and purchases restrictions apply, see full Rewards
Terms and Conditions for full details at AOPA.org/creditcard.
1 Rewards points can be redeemed for Cash Back or other items provided through AOPA Pilot Rewards. A Cash Back redemption is applied
as a statement credit. The statement credit will reduce your balance
but you are still required to make at least your minimum payment. A
minimum of 2,500 points is needed to redeem for Cash Back. Values
for non-cash back redemption items such as merchandise, gift cards,
and travel may vary.

pilots predicted the sleek amphibian
would have a terrible safety record.
Slick, amped-up marketing videos
aimed at a youthful "power sports"
enthusiasts showed A5s maneuvering at
low altitude and flying in tight formation. The company boasted that a large
percentage of its depositors were people
who didn't yet hold pilot certificates.
And, since the Icon A5 is a Light Sport
aircraft, they needed to obtain only sport
pilot licenses that require half as much
flying time as private pilot certificates.
Icon has now delivered slightly more
than 100 airplanes-and pilots' initial
concerns seem to have been borne
out. Two A5s have been lost in fatal
accidents, and at least four more were
destroyed in nonfatal ones. Those who
anticipated a tragic mix of inexperienced
pilots flying on and off the water in the
56  FLIGHT TRAINING DECEMBER 2019

unforgiving, highly dynamic, low-altitude environment were quick to pile on
and say they told us so.
But a closer look at Icon accidents
shows the truth isn't so tidy.
In fact, low-time sport pilots are yet
to be involved in a single Icon accident.
Instead, it's high-time, experienced
pilots-many with advanced ratings-who are at fault. Not once has a
mechanical problem contributed to an
Icon crash. Every one of them has been
pilot error, according to National Transportation Safety Board and FAA reports.
The first high-profile Icon mishap
took place in April 2017, in Key Largo,
Florida, when a former U.S. Air Force
fighter pilot hit the water with enough
impact to crack the airplane's composite
hull. The pilot had been maneuvering at
low altitude while performing a series
of water landings, and he developed an



http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard http://www.AOPA.org/creditcard

Flight Training - December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - December 2019

Contents
Flight Training - December 2019 - Cover4
Flight Training - December 2019 - Cover1
Flight Training - December 2019 - Cover2
Flight Training - December 2019 - Contents
Flight Training - December 2019 - 2
Flight Training - December 2019 - 3
Flight Training - December 2019 - 4
Flight Training - December 2019 - 5
Flight Training - December 2019 - 6
Flight Training - December 2019 - 7
Flight Training - December 2019 - 8
Flight Training - December 2019 - 9
Flight Training - December 2019 - 10
Flight Training - December 2019 - 11
Flight Training - December 2019 - 12
Flight Training - December 2019 - 13
Flight Training - December 2019 - 14
Flight Training - December 2019 - 15
Flight Training - December 2019 - 16
Flight Training - December 2019 - 17
Flight Training - December 2019 - 18
Flight Training - December 2019 - 19
Flight Training - December 2019 - 20
Flight Training - December 2019 - 21
Flight Training - December 2019 - 22
Flight Training - December 2019 - 23
Flight Training - December 2019 - 24
Flight Training - December 2019 - 25
Flight Training - December 2019 - 26
Flight Training - December 2019 - 27
Flight Training - December 2019 - 28
Flight Training - December 2019 - 29
Flight Training - December 2019 - 30
Flight Training - December 2019 - 31
Flight Training - December 2019 - 32
Flight Training - December 2019 - 33
Flight Training - December 2019 - 34
Flight Training - December 2019 - 35
Flight Training - December 2019 - 36
Flight Training - December 2019 - 37
Flight Training - December 2019 - 38
Flight Training - December 2019 - 39
Flight Training - December 2019 - 40
Flight Training - December 2019 - 41
Flight Training - December 2019 - 42
Flight Training - December 2019 - 43
Flight Training - December 2019 - 44
Flight Training - December 2019 - 45
Flight Training - December 2019 - 46
Flight Training - December 2019 - 47
Flight Training - December 2019 - 48
Flight Training - December 2019 - 49
Flight Training - December 2019 - 50
Flight Training - December 2019 - 51
Flight Training - December 2019 - 52
Flight Training - December 2019 - 53
Flight Training - December 2019 - 54
Flight Training - December 2019 - 55
Flight Training - December 2019 - 56
Flight Training - December 2019 - 57
Flight Training - December 2019 - 58
Flight Training - December 2019 - 59
Flight Training - December 2019 - 60
Flight Training - December 2019 - 61
Flight Training - December 2019 - 62
Flight Training - December 2019 - 63
Flight Training - December 2019 - 64
Flight Training - December 2019 - 65
Flight Training - December 2019 - 66
Flight Training - December 2019 - 67
Flight Training - December 2019 - 68
Flight Training - December 2019 - 69
Flight Training - December 2019 - 70
Flight Training - December 2019 - 71
Flight Training - December 2019 - 72
Flight Training - December 2019 - Cover3
Flight Training - December 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com