Diamond Aircraft's DA-40 Diamond Star is a "few weeks away" from European instrument flight rules certification, says the company.
Some 15 demonstration aircraft are due to arrive in the USA from the company's manufacturing site in Austria in January, says Diamond.
A total of 72 aircraft have been ordered to date: " We will go to 100 before the year is out," predicts Diamond sales vice-president, Errol Bader. The DA-40 is expected to have USFAR 23 certification in the second quarter, he adds.
Production was originally expected to build up to 65 aircraft this year, 150 next year and 300 in 2002, but the company is running slightly behind this ambitious early schedule.
Source: Flight International
