Representatives of Penta, the new owner of Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody, have voiced doubts about whether talks its current managers have held with potential buyers of the L-159 advanced jet trainer will ever result in production contracts.
Penta co-owner Marek Dospiva says he does not think the company can still design and produce entire aircraft - an ambition that has in the past led to a debt of Ckr10 billion ($450 million).
Dospiva says Penta wants to see Aero Vodochody secure additional work for Sikorsky, but is also interested in similar co-operation with BAE Systems, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Piaggio and Rolls-Royce. It also wants the Czech firm to acquire business to repair legacy L-39s and L-59s now maintained in Slovakia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Penta hopes to discuss the future of Aero Vodochody's Ae-270 Ibis project with Taiwanese manufacturer AIDC.
Source: Flight International
