The parachute system is designed to protect occupants in the event of an emergency by lowering the aircraft to the ground after deployment. Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) revolutionized general aviation safety by providing an alternative measure of safety to occupants.

To deploy the parachute, a person must use approximately 35 pounds of force on the red handle to set off a magnesium charge that ignites a solid-fuel rocket. The rocket blows out a hatch where the BRS is stored. As the rocket deploys, the aircraft will slow as the embedded BRS harness straps unzip from both sides of the fuselage.

Within seconds, the parachute will unfurl to assist the aircraft descent.

IFR Certified (LSi)

Read what EAA and AOPA have to say about IFR and SLSA. Click here

With technology borrowed from the FAA IFR certified Alarus (a NORMAL-UTILITY category aircraft we also manufacture ), AMD has now certified the airframe of the Zodiac S-LSA for VFR NIGHT as well as IFR.

The IFR certified model is designated the Zodiac LSi. It includes added equipment such as: heated pitot/static electric heater elements, alternate static switch, lightning protection including lightning deflectors and lightning grounding, back-up electric system, TSO gyro's, pilot de-icing window, wing tip strobes, wing tip and tail navigation lights, taxi and landing lights, cabin light, and much more. This equipment is installed to meet and/or exceed FAR Part 23 requirements as well as FAR 91.205. Airframe meets FAR 23.867 ( Electrical bonding and protection against lightning and static electricity, FAR 23.954 (Fuel system lightning protection) and more.

Redesigned in 2008 - the Zodiac CH 650:

The original Zodiac was designed by renowned aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz in the mid-eighties. The design has been a popular kit-plane since then, marketed and produced in the US by Zenith Aircraft Company. More than 1,000 Zodiac aircraft are flying throughout the world today. Over the years, the Zodiac design has evolved as it was first certified and then manufactured as a ready-to-fly aircraft in Canada, Europe and South America, as per local regulations, and now in the USA.

The Zodiac CH 601 XL aircraft was redesigned for the Light Sport Aircraft category in 2004. The Zodiac CH 650 LS and LSi are different than the XL. The 650 series incorporates many changes that were made to the 601 series in Europe and around the world. The 650 series incorporates the best of everything. The Most noticeable difference is the canopy and rudder. Other changes includes lowering of the trailing edge of the wings (lowers the nose of the aircraft for better visibility), control changes (more balanced), tougher fuselage (good for flying schools), new canopy latching - locking system (easier to close and open the canopy), and a lot more.

Lightening Protection:

Lightning protection has become a big concern over the years with many new-generation light aircraft.

"A growing new class of kit-built composite aircraft also raises some concerns. Because owner-assembled, kit-built aircraft are considered by the FAA to be "experimental," they are not subject to lightning protection regulations. Many kit-built planes are made of fiberglass or graphite-reinforced composites. At Lightning Technologies' laboratory, we routinely test protected fiberglass and composite panels with simulated lightning currents. The results of these tests show that lightning can damage inadequately protected composites. Pilots of unprotected fiberglass or composite aircraft should not fly anywhere near a lightning storm or in other types of clouds, because non-thunderstorm clouds may contain sufficient electric charge to produce lightning."

When certifying the Alarus in the early 90's, AMD consulted with Lightning Technologies, Inc. to assist with the process of full FAA FAR 23 compliance. Today, the new Zodiac LSi benefits from our past research and development and incorporates lightning protection technology and equipment similar to the Alarus aircraft.

For more details, please visit: http://www.lightningtech.com/d~ta/faq1.html

IFR Panel for Zodiac LSi :

AMD provides the classic type aircraft 6 pack. In order to keep the price of the IFR aircraft reasonable, AMD is installing classic gyro's which are TSO. Non-TSO gyro's can be found on the market, but are not used by AMD in the LSi. Glass panels are also available but are not TSO and /or IFR approved. When flying in IFR conditions, the 6 pack is the primary set of instruments.

Typical FAA TSO and IFR certified avionics used in an AMD aircraft with SANDEL EHSI.

For extreme IFR navigation, the SANDEL digital EHSI (TSO) and Garmin GNS 430 NAV/COM/GPS (IFR certified and TSO) are available.

The Engine:

The Continental 0-200 engine installed in the Zodiac LSi is FAA certified under part 33, allowing IFR operations. Engines are factory new.

ENGINE CERTIFIED UNDER FAA PART 33

SRS Airbag Seatbelts:

AMSAFE and AMD signed a Research & Development contract for certifying seat belt airbags in the Alarus training aircraft. "AMSAFE developed a seatbelt type airbag for the airline industry. Applying the same technology to our training aircraft makes sense" states John Degonia, sales director of AMD. The seatbelts have now been approved for the Zodiac by AMSAFE.

See: SRS Airbag Seatbelt details

Seat Foam

The same foam is available as an option for the Zodiac SLSA

Landing Gear:

The simple one-piece aluminum spring gear of the Alarus has been well tested in the field as many flying schools throughout the world are using the aircraft as a primary and IFR trainer.

The Zodiac gear is similar. Extra tough and simple.

Structural Load Testing of the Zodiac:

The ZODIAC design is the product of extensive research and development, and the result of professional engineering by Chris Heintz, a leading designer of light aircraft. The modern design makes use of advanced technologies, while using proven design concepts and simple systems for easy assembly and maintenance. A professional design, the ZODIAC structure has undergone a complete and rigorous flight test and design stress analysis, as well as load testing of critical components:

New structural tests again confirms the structural strength of the XL. Tests were approved and witness by an independent structural engineer. For more photo's on load tests, please see: http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/news/Structural%20tests.htm http://zenithair.com/zodiac/6-photo-testing.html

Avionics:

Both the Alarus and the Zodiac use advanced avionics, as both the aircraft are IFR certified. The Alarus is equipped with the " Approach Pro-G Wiring System" designed for a Garmin-centric, IFR configured instrument panel. The Pro-G Wiring System is compatible with Garmin NAV/GPS/COM, audio panels, intercoms, moving map displays, VOR indicators, HSI's, RMI's, ADF's, annunciators, mode control and just about any "send and receive" RS-232 formatted electronic device.

The Fast Stack  Approach Harness makes it simple to upgrade as many avionic systems are incorporated into the Pro-G Wiring System. It's like a plug-and-play system. Each cable and lead is clearly marked. Instead of having hundreds of individual wires behind your panel, you have a few. The installation is clean and easy to maintain.

When a significant amount of Garmin avionics is installed, the Approach Pro-G system is used in the Zodiac LSi.

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Transponder-Encoder and pitot static tests:

In order to meet requirements of FAR 91.411 (...No person may operate an airplane, or helicopter, in controlled airspace under IFR unless...Within the preceding 24 calendar months, each static pressure system, each altimeter instrument, and each automatic pressure altitude reporting system has been tested and inspected and found to comply...) AMD tests all production aircraft VFR and or IFR. Tests are signed off by an FAA certified person before delivery. Log book entry must be made.

In order to meet requirements of FAR 91.413 (No persons may use an ATC transponder.....unless, within the preceding 24 calendar months, the ATC transponder has been tested and inspected and found to comply...) AMD tests all production aircraft VFR and or IFR. Tests are signed off by an FAA certified person before delivery. Log book entry must be made.

ELT:

ELT's are tested and inspected in compliance with FAR 91.207. ELT can be turned ON at the panel.

Corrosion Protection:

Each aircraft built by AMD is corrosion protected. When airframe is built, a "zinc chromate" type paint is applied to mating surfaces. Once aircraft is 100% finished and ready for delivery, a fine mist special type oil is sprayed inside the aircraft. This oil mist seals the aluminum. The FAA approved the same system for the Alarus.

Aircraft Inspection & Maintenance:

Due to the wide range of available avionics, the top part of the instrument panel can be easily removed for inspection and maintenance. Rear fuselage can be accessed through a bottom inspection panel about 2x2 feet big or by moving the seat backs forward. Other inspection panels are located under the wings for aileron system and fuel inspection.

Aircraft Ground Handling:

Nose wheel area is designed so that standard type aviation systems can be used to move the aircraft.

Aircraft Ground Power Plug:

Located behind the wing, away from the propeller.

Flight Testing:

The Alarus was certified by Transport Canada, the FAA, the European Community (JAA) and others. More than 30 Type Certificates have been issued for the aircraft .

AMD has established an extensive flight-test protocol using specially designed testing equipment         (such as the "Boom", a rotating pitot head attached to the outer wing as shown in above left photo) for its certification processes.

Above photos are of the AMD Zodiac during Light Sport Aircraft compliance flight-testing, using similar equipment as used for Alarus certification. Right photo shows two airspeed indicators on top of the panel. One is connected to the Boom (left photo) and the other to the standard aircraft pitot. This is how the Indicated Airspeed is calibrated. A calibrated police radar speed gun was used to calibrate the boom.

For information on ASTM and the LSA rule development, please see: ASTM

Insurance:

Warning: Before you purchase any new Light Sport Aircraft, make sure you will be able to get insurance for it!

Insuring the AMD Zodiac S-LSA is easy. In fact, it is one of the least expensive Sport Aircraft to insure. Chris Heintz designs have a long and enviable track record in the field (and in the air!) and are preferred by insurance companies for their excellent low speed control.

Many Insurance companies request that manufacturers stock airframe parts in the USA, that must be available, easy and fast to deliver. Zodiac parts are made and stocked in North America, not overseas, as with many LSA aircraft.

For more detailed information on the  Zodiac, please see www.zenithair.com

For additional information on the LSA, please see www.eaa.org  or http://www.sportpilot.org