MD keeps pace with demand

The biggest challenge for MD Helicopters is to keep pace with customer demand. That's the upbeat message from chairman and chief executive Henk Schaeken as the company exhibits for the first time at Asian Aerospace.

Schaeken claims demand, particularly for the MD Explorer, is outstanding, adding: "Keeping in mind that 1999 was our first year in business and was actually just over 10 months long, I think what we accomplished is astounding."

The company posted a profit for the year, inked 50 firm sales and delivered 37 helicopters, broken down into 19 MD Explorers, seven MD600Ns, five MD520Ns, four MD530Fs and two MD500Es.

MDHI also plans to increase production to 64 aircraft in 2000 and 90 aircraft in 2001.

Source: Flight Daily News