El Gavilan, the Colombian manufacturer of the Gavilan 358 utility aircraft, says that it is negotiating with unidentified Mexican partners to set up a second production line in the country and to sell up to 30 aircraft a year.
Marketing and projects manager Renato Avila says: "If the market is in a position where we feel it could be self-sufficient here, we would definitely move a line to Mexico." The Mexican operation would support sales to Central America, while the original line at Santafe de Bogota would be expected to sustain sales to Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
A further potential alliance leading towards eventual manufacturing is being investigated with an unidentified company in the USA. "We are working towards a strategic alliance in the USA to permit us to have aircraft built there. Under this deal, we would trade our low cost of labour and manufacture components for them," says Avila. The talks are expected to be concluded by year-end, he adds.
Gavilan expects to conclude the sale of up to four 358s to a Peru-based operator which wants to replace Cessna Caravans on tourist flights from Lima to the nearby Nasca Lines, an archeological site visible primarily from the air. Sales of a further two to Ecuador are expected to be concluded this year, says Avila. A total of 12 Gavilans is on firm order, with 10 in service. The outstanding aircraft are due for delivery to an operator in Guatemala.
The Gavilan recently won US certification to Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 rules. The eight-seater is powered by a 260kW (350hp) Textron Lycoming TIO-540-W2A piston driving a Hartzell three-bladed propeller.
Source: Flight International
