Icon Aircraft welcomes 2025 with new president and strategic manufacturing shift to China
December 28, 2024
In a holiday greeting emailed to Icon A5 owners earlier in December, the company’s outgoing president Jason Huang confirmed the amphibious aircraft manufacturer is transferring some of its manufacturing from the US to a new, state-of-the-art facility in China.
The announcement follows the acquisition of Icon Aircraft earlier this year by SG Investment America, a subsidiary of Germany’s Durkopp Adler, owned by ShangGong Group in Shanghai, China.
The mailing also confirmed that Lily Hu will succeed Huang as president, who has served in the role since 2020.
Iconic new era
Highlighting that his message, sent on 16 December, was in celebration of “the spirit of giving and reflection,” Huang revealed that Icon Aircraft is “embarking on a strategic transformation in its manufacturing operations.”
The company, he said, will continue to maintain a strong North American presence at its Vacaville headquarters in California, while “transitioning a portion of its manufacturing to a new, state-of-the-art facility in China.”
The business is taking the necessary steps to ensure operations run smoothly throughout the transition to minimise disruption to customers.
“The move to a new facility,” Huang added, “coupled with advanced tooling and automation, represents a pivotal moment in our history. By continuing to embrace innovation and invest in modern infrastructure, we will be positioned to meet the challenges of an evolving market.”
In light of his personal decision to step down as president and take on an advisory role with SGIA, Huang said the move will enable him to “explore investment opportunities within the general aviation industry, helping to diversify Icon’s product portfolio and expand its impact.”
He also noted that his successor Lily Hu brings over 17 years of executive leadership experience and will be supported by an “exceptional leadership team”.
Strategic restructuring
This latest development for the amphibious aircraft manufacturer, which received FAA Type Certification for the Icon A5 in the primary category at the end of 2023, marks a significant shift for the company. Icon Aircraft was acquired in August by SG Investment America (SGIA) following a strategic restructuring process, initiated with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in April.
