CAP Aviation will kickstart a promotional campaign next month for its two-seat CAP 10C and CAP 222 wood and composite light aerobatic aircraft in the USA.
Dominique Roland, CAP Aviation chief executive, says: "The Oshkosh show [hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association] will provide the launch platform for our sales push in the USA. This region is vital [to our business strategy]."
The Bernay, France-based manufacturer is hoping to clinch French certification for its $220,000 tandem two-seat 222 this month and is seeking US Federal Aviation Administration approval by the end of the year. The $155,000 CAP 10C, an upgraded 10B with a new wing and landing gear, is slated to receive French approval next month.
The manufacturer is not intending to establish a dealership network to support and sell both types, but plans an incentive-based system whereby existing customers help to promote the aircraft. Roland says: "The 10C and 222 are aimed at niche markets and are very simple to maintain. The 222 project was launched on the basis of 200 aircraft for the lifetime of the programme, with more than 70% of total production expected to be sold into the USA."
Service centres would not finance a spare-parts inventory for so few aircraft, Roland admits, so CAP aims to despatch parts from France directly to the customers.
Source: Flight International
