Flight Design CTLS Light-Sport Aircraft Also Approved for Production

Leinfelden-Echterdingen GERMANY / 30 November 2009 — On 16 November 2009 Flight Design announced it finished all necessary proceedings and obtained the Type Design Approval TDA-LSA-0001A for the world best selling Light-Sport Aircraft, the CT. The approval was received from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, CAAC. Flight Design is now able to deliver the first LSA aircraft to the opening Chinese general aviation market. To do this, it was also necessary to obtain a Chinese Production Certificate.

Following this achievement, Flight Design is the first company in the world to obtain Chinese LSA approval, and the first company outside of China holding a Chinese Type Design Approval and a Chinese Production Certificate.

“This is a completely new level of qualification the CTLS has obtained with this step,” stated Flight Design CEO, Matthias Betsch. “Up to now, LSA airplanes have been brought into service on the basis of a manufacturer’s self declaration alone, without any kind of certification. Flight Design, armed with a LAMA audit and ISO TÜV Nord certificate was always leading in giving the customer reliable proof of quality. With the CAAC certificates our level has changed, and we had to undergo the full process for Type Design Approval and Production Certificate. The Chinese CAAC inspection team under the lead of Mr. Yin Shijun, Deputy Director General–AAD, was very knowledgeable and helped us to improve our system.” Approval from the Chinese authorities underlines the high level of quality and compliance of the CTLS aircraft, Flight Design believes. Chinese inspection team officials were complimentary of Flight Design for their high quality as well as a good flying track record and the intention to improve their system, so Flight Design was able to obtain this approval in very short time. CAAC Deputy Director General Yin congratulated Betsch and his team on the successful finished audit. As a key to success for this mission, Flight Design expressed appreciation for Mr. Wu Xiaodong, leader of Flight Design China.

“We congratulate Flight Design Germany on this success,” said Tom Peghiny, president Flight Design USA. “As the market leader in customer satisfaction we are confident in the future. The U.S. market shows better sales numbers in September and October 2009 than in those months of 2008, so a market recovery can be seen,” reported Peghiny.

“Working in the LSA industry as an engineer at other producers, I find Flight Design’s desire outstanding in its goal to deliver validated quality products and to provide customers with reliable facts,” said Tim-Peter Voss, Chief Flight Test Engineer of Flight Design. “I have not seen such open communication with customers at other manufacturers. It is a challenge in down economy, but the right way is to keep moving forward and the reason why Flight Design is succeeding is due to having the best package of performance, safety, comfort and service,” Voss added.

Foreseeing this kind of developments, Flight Design has always decided to invest its capacities wisely into developing and opening new markets, being heavily involved in the ASTM committee or with the EASA Permit to Fly, helping creating a good base for all industry and users. As evidence of its success, Flight Design aircraft are now operated and supported in 39 countries world wide.

Flight Design is a 23-year-old air-sport products producer based in Germany. The company remains the worldwide market leader thanks to its well-received CT series of light aircraft. More than 1,500 of these aircraft are flying in 39 countries. One of the first aircraft certified under the American ASTM standards in 2005, the CT (“composite technology”) remains the top-selling LSA in America through five consecutive years. A newer model, the MC (metal concept), has been well received in the markets.

For more information or to find the closest Flight Design dealer, go to:  main manufacturer website www.flightdesign.com, or Flight Design USA website www.flightdesignusa.com. To find the nearest Flight Design flight school, go to the new http://www.fd-pc.com website.