Guy Norris/WICHITA
ANNUAL PRODUCTION of Learjet business-jet models could reach 100 by 1999 as the company plans an all-out attempt to regain its market-leadership position from Cessna.
Speaking at the rollout ceremony, of the Model 45 light business jet on 14 September, Learjet president Brian Barents said, that between 50 and 60 of the total, will be made up by the new member of the family. "The [Model] 60 continues to be a good seller, and we expect to plan on making between 18 and 20 per year in that period," he says. The balance is expected to be made up by 12-18 Model 31s.
Barents hopes that Learjet will regain leadership by the end of the decade. The Learjet 45, which cost "between $200 million and $225 million" to develop, will spearhead the attempt. "The roll-out symbolises the renaissance of this company," he says.
Production of the aircraft, which, surprisingly, is the first all-new design from the Wichita, Kansas-based company in 33 years, will rise from 30 in 1997 (the first full year of production), to 48 in 1998, and "...as close to 60 as we can get" in 1999. The production line is optimised for 68 at Wichita and major subassembly sites at Bombardier companies de Havilland and Shorts. In spite of Learjet's optimism, Cessna, which produced 97 business jets in 1994 and has several new models approaching the assembly line, will be difficult to catch.
Signalling a possible growth of new business for corporate-jet makers in general, Barents predicts that fractional ownership could be as high as 15% of total Learjet production by the year 2000 and is earmarking 15 aircraft a year into its jet-share scheme with AMR.
Source: Flight International
