SOCATA STRATEGY
EADS Socata has halted plans to transfer production of its TB20 and TB21 piston-engine aircraft to Romania. The deal, originally expected to be in place this month, "is linked with the privatisation project in the Romanian industry - as long as that project is not completed it's difficult to launch operational activities". The company, meanwhile is forecasting deliveries of 50 TBM 850 single-engined turboprops this year, and 60 in 2008. "The 2009 picture is less clear, but we see strong interest," says aircraft sales vice-president Jacques Lordon.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Columbia Aircraft, manufacturer of the 350 and 400 high-performance piston singles, has restored its production level to three new aircraft a week and has reinstated most of the 180 workers who were laid off in late March following a setback caused by a six-month certification delay on the Garmin G1000 instrument panel installation and a freak hailstorm that damaged more than 60 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
