Cirrus Design is transferring fabrication of the fuselage for the SR20 all-composite light aircraft from the final assembly plant in Duluth, Minnesota, to its plant in Grand Forks, North Dakota, as part of efforts to ramp up production.
Production certification of the move by the US Federal Aviation Administration is expected "soon", and the move will assist efforts to get deliveries back on track after earlier delays. The SR20 was certificated in October 1998, but deliveries did not begin until July last year due to a crash. Cirrus has delivered just over 30 aircraft against orders for more than 530.
The Grand Forks plant produces composite components, including interior parts and horizontal stabilisers. Cirrus had planned to move wing fabrication there to boost employment to 150 people. Instead, it has decided to transfer fuselage fabrication as the Grand Forks plant is proficient in the processes.
Source: Flight International
