ICON Aircraft and Avilution announce ICON Sense: a breakthrough in amphibious flight safety

ICON Aircraft, Inc., alongside technology partners Avilution, LLC and Skytron Avionics, LLC, today announced the launch of ICON Sense, a next-generation flight safety system tailored specifically for the ICON A5 amphibious light sport aircraft.

While amphibious aircraft offer unmatched utility, transitioning between land and water requires precise attention to landing gear configuration. An improper setup, touching down on water with wheels extended, or on a runway with gear retracted, can lead to unexpected handling dynamics and substantial damage to the aircraft.

ICON Sense is purpose-built to mitigate these risks by providing pilots with an added layer of situational awareness.

"Customer safety is our ultimate priority at ICON," said VP of Operations Rodolfo Correa. "Avilution has delivered an intuitive, reliable safeguard that seamlessly supports our pilots when it matters most."

Integrating seamlessly with the A5's existing instrument suite, ICON Sense uses high-accuracy GPS, high-resolution water topography databases, and a precision radar altimeter. Avilution's modular eXtensible Flight System (XFS) software automatically processes this data to predict the pilots' landing intention and alert them if the gear is improperly configured. The system delivers timely warnings while deliberately minimising nuisance alerts that can distract crews.

Capitalising on XFS's flexible architecture, ICON Sense also introduces a suite of audible reminders coordinated with the A5's existing crew alerting system:

– Landing Proximity Assist: Radar altimeter voice callouts and precise surface proximity tones for both land and water.

– System Status Audio Alerts: Clear verbal warnings for critical issues, including Landing Gear Failure, Flaps Failure, Low Fuel, and a Dry Bilge Pump.

– Annunciator Panel Cautions: Distinct audible prompts accompanying existing visual alerts (Battery, Fuel Pressure, Engine, Alternator, Land Aircraft, Secure Wing/Tail, and Purge Bilge).

"This is exactly the kind of aviation safety improvement I had in mind when I founded Avilution," noted Avilution founder Mark Spencer. "ICON Sense is a defining product for us, and we thank ICON for trusting our technology."

Pre-orders for ICON Sense are open now through ICON Aircraft, with expected availability in Q4 2026. Pricing is to be determined and will be announced closer to the release date.