Gippsland Aeronautics will boost production of its eight-seat GA-8 Airvan utility aircraft from 16 aircraft a year to 48 by the end of 2003.
Managing director Michael Hall says type certification was received in December 2000 and "we are now moving into full-scale manufacturing".
New staff are being employed to cope with the increase in operations, with the workforce expected to climb to 100 by early 2003. Extra capacity under construction will boost floor space to 7,500m2 (81,000ft2).
"The demand for the Airvan is there," says Hall. "We could produce 200 a year, but don't have the infrastructure for that scale of operations just yet."
Source: Flight International
