Manufacturer continues to revamp products as it appoints new chief executive
New Piper Aircraft is to install Avidyne’s FlightMax Entegra integrated flightdeck as standard on the Malibu Mirage high-performance piston single as the company continues to revamp its product line and recover from damage wrought by last year’s hurricanes.
The Entegra flightdeck is installed as standard on the single-turboprop Malibu Meridian and available as an option on all of Piper’s other piston singles: the Warrior III, Arrow, Archer III, Piper 6X and 6XT and the Saratoga II HP and II TC. Only the Seminole and Seneca V piston twins have not yet received the Entegra upgrade.
New Piper, meanwhile, has replaced Chuck Suma as president and chief executive, appointing James Bass, previously president and chief executive of Arizona-based electronics manufacturing firm Suntron. Suma, who joined Piper in 1976 and became chief executive in 1991, will continue in an advisory role as vice-chairman, handling external contact with dealers and regulatory agencies.
Majority ownership of the Vero beach, Florida-based light aircraft manufacturer was acquired by equity fund American Capital Strategies in July 2003. Piper says Bass was selected “after an extensive search”.
The company is recovering from last year’s hurricane damage, which reduced deliveries to 24 aircraft in the fourth quarter, compared with 66 a year earlier. Production has recovered, with 73 aircraft delivered in the second quarter this year, up from 60 a year earlier.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON
Source: Flight International
