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[Urs Heim]

Piper Announces End of the PiperSport LSA
January 12, 2011 — Citing differences in business philosophies, Piper Aircraft Inc. announced Wednesday it would terminate its business relationship with Czech Sport Aircraft, which produced a light-sport aircraft (LSA) that Piper marketed as the PiperSport and introduced at last year’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida.
“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 which distributed a light-sport aircraft manufactured by the Czech company and distributed under Piper’s brand by a separate distributor network,” said Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger. “Clearly, the company has a different business perspective and approach to the market than Czech Sport Aircraft.”
Piper spokesperson Jackie Carlon said Piper remains enthusiastic about the LSA market, and the decision to end the relationship with CSA required a lot of evaluation. But at the end of the day, the company made the fundamental decision to part ways.
“Our biggest concern is to ensure our support for LSA,” she said, noting that the company will be at Sebring January 20-23, and Piper remains a sponsor of the event. “We will be there exhibiting.”
Carlon said PiperSport sales were “robust” and had met goals -  “north of 70 aircraft” -  since the January 2010 launch. “It’s a good product,” she said. PiperSports will continue to be supported through the distributor network that was created specifically to market the aircraft manufactured and supported by Czech Sport Aircraft.
In its news release, Piper stated that as the company built that distributor network, “it became clear that Piper’s core strengths and that of Czech Sport Aircraft were mismatched.”
“We at Piper have a close affinity with this emerging segment of the marketplace and we have great expectations for the LSA industry,” Berger added. “The LSA we were distributing is a good one and we encourage aviation enthusiasts to continue their support of this segment of the market.”
EAA Sport Aviation Technology Columnist Max Trescott says that the PiperSport will continue to thrive due to the strong dealer network that Piper created.
“The PiperSport is a terrific airplane and was one of the top selling LSAs in 2010.” Trescott said. “While Piper has chosen to end it's involvement with the project, the aircraft most likely will continue to be one of the top selling LSAs, though under a different name.”
Trescott added that he wouldn’t be surprised if Piper rolls out their own LSA in the future, but in the meantime he says that momentum is likely to swing toward the Cessna Skycatcher.
EAA is attempting to contact representatives at Czech Sport Aircraft, which is based in the Czech Republic.---------------------------

[Richard T. Russ]

Pipers decision to drop the PiperSport was a shock to all the owners and distributors to say the least. In responce to Pipers decision, all of the thirteen PiperSport distributors have formed a coalition that will now be the SportCruiser Distributors of America and will still be the service centers for all the PiperSport owners. Even though Piper has dropped the model after selling 73  plus this year, the PiperSport which was just a Czech SportCruiser re-badged will still be a available as SportCriuiser II.

So what does this mean to the existing PiperSport owners-really nothing. In fact it might even make the existing PiperSports' more valuable since there were so few made under their name. By the same token, the name dropping really means little to PiperSport owners since Piper was no more than marketing medium (ie Broker if you wish). Piper from day one advised the owners that any warranty work or complaints was to be handled by the selling distributor or Czech Aircraft. So you see, nothing has changed but the name on the new planes coming to the US.
I personally am disappointed that Piper has pulled out because I purposely bought a PiperSport rather than a SportCruiser because I felt it would be better to have a known American Manufacture standing behing the plane. It wasn't until after I bought the PiperSport that I found out that Piper was only a go between. Had I known all this in advance and would it have changed my mind;not really. I still think the PiperSport is a great little airplane that is fun to fly, very reasonable fuel efficient transportation. I also feel that now that the PiperSport has made a significant entry into the S-LSA market the SportCruiser replacement should do very well.

[Richard T. Russ]

Ben sent this to me this morning and I wanted to get the information out as soon as possible.

Czech Sport Aircraft a.s.

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Kunovice, Czech Republic, 18th January 2011

After a year of having been marketed as the PiperSport in co-operation with Piper Aircraft Inc; by

mutual agreement, Czech Sport Aircraft's SportCruiser (ICAO type CRUZ) is to once again be

independently distributed.

Why has this happened?

CSA and Piper have agreed to end the relationship that has been in place for the past year

(announced formally at Sebring last January). The main reasons being differences in direction and

philosophy of the two firms. CSA wish to continue to distribute CSA aircraft world wide and do not

want to focus on the US market only. The process is being handled smoothly and professionally so

that it will be as seamless as possible.

What happens now?

The name of the aircraft will change from PiperSport to SuperCruiser. But other than that it is very

much business as usual. The network of dealers, distributors and service agents that surrounds

former SportCruiser will continue to operate and to be strengthened; though now directly under the

Czech Sport Aircraft banner. Both new and existing clients will continue to be receive the highest

possible levels of service – much of the supply and logistics chain has always run directly with

CSA.

As the aircraft continues to prove itself as a market leader, fun, economic and reliable Light Sports

Trainer and Tourer; sales look to continue to hold market share and grow in numbers. Clients can

also be reassured that CSA is a strong and stable company. Backed by leading European private

capital firm Slavia Capital, the company enjoys respect in the market, has a current order book in

excess of 150 aircraft and continues to invest in R&D.

Slavia Capital continues with leading international financial institutions on preparation of the Initial

Public Offering of CSA shares at the Prague and Warsaw Stock Exchange, CSA is financially strong

and transparent, meeting fully IPO information standards.

LSA Heaven in 2011:

The SportCruiser has always been regarded as a class leading aircraft and in 2011 is set to keep

getting better as the SuperCruiser. Significant new design changes are also soon to be unveiled in

the 2011. These include revisions from spinner through canopy, elevator, ailerons and wing tips

which all make an already superb aircraft even better.

European flight schools are also eagerly awaiting the final issue of the SuperCruiser EASA

Restricted Type Certificate which will allow the aircraft to be used for flight training purposes in the

region. This is anticipated now for Q1 2011 release and will help satisfy the strong demand for

aircraft to replace the ageing legacy training fleet.

Responding to client demand, the SuperCruiser will be available in a variety of configurations,

build and trim levels. These range from the QBK (QuickBuild / Experimental) model for home

builders through to the RTF (Ready to Fly) plane with a choice of basic but high quality analogue

instruments through to full glass panel configurations with luxury leather seats, BRS and autopilot.

Recognising that different parts of the world have different needs, the SC will also be configured to

take into account the climates that the aircraft are to be predominately flown in. For example in

Australia very strong DUC or WarpDrive props will be fitted where the otherwise excellent Czech

WoodComp props struggled to cope with the extreme thermal conditions. In warmer climes the air

scoop option almost doubles airflow to the cabin and in Italy no self respecting aviator would want

to land their plane if not fitted with the matching available designer luggage cases in the wing

lockers.

The CSA Dealer Network currently covers 24 countries and is made up of seasoned professionals

who are dedicated to customer service as well as all being keen aviators. This year the company

also has a tie up with one of the Redbull Air Races pilot Martin Sonka which will lead to high level

exposure of the brand around the world. Martin is not only RedBull Airrace pilot, he is also a

display pilot of Czech Airforce. CSA will proudly introduce a new MT (Primary Military Trainer) at

AERO Friedrichshafen 2011 which will fill the gap in the segment. At AERO CSA will also

introduce our new high wing design. To sum it up – a lot of news will follow up soon.

Commenting on the year ahead, Petr Duben, Managing Director of CSA said 'We are looking

forward to a very good year in 2011. Production Organisation Approval, Design Organisation

Approval together with our highly sophisticated aircraft engineers create a complete new standards

in the LSA industry. Our aircraft excel in key attributes of good looks, safety, capability, economics

and are joy to own & fly.' Specifically on the subject of the dissolution of the Piper marketing

agreement, Petr stated that 'This will allow us once again to engage directly with clients and dealers

to provide the best aircraft for their needs at the best value'.

CSA will fully support existing SportCruiser fleet as well PiperSport fleet. We will fully support

Piper Sport Distribution. CSA would like to thank Mr. Kevin Gould, Mr. John Becker, Mr. Bob

Kromer, Mr. Derek Zimmerman and Mrs. Marry Messuti for cooperation.

When Mr. Piper introduced the Piper Cub in 1937, he had a dream. He felt that everyone should fly.

And he believed that Piper could provide everyone with that freedom. This is what we at CSA still

bear in mind and will do our best to deliver trend setting aircraft to the aviation community at an

affordable price.

For further information:

For further information and to be added to the CSA press news stream and launch event mailing list,

please contact [e-mail] or Call on [phone].

Czech Sport Aircraft a.s.

Aviation company changing the aviation industry

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[Ben Fitzgerald-O'Connor]

Note that post this the name reverted (after a matter of hours to SportCruiser) - and has been updated on the CSA website to reflect this at www.czechsportaircraft.com

 

Regards

Ben