New Piper Aircraft is planning sweeping upgrades across its general aviation aircraft product line and is eyeing new ventures in an effort to stimulate orders and raise the profile of its piston and turbine types.
The move comes as American Capital Strategies completes the buy-out and recapitalisation of the Vero Beach, Florida-based manufacturer.
New Piper will focus on avionics, powerplants (including diesel engines) and construction techniques, says chief executive Chuck Suma. The product upgrade programme is expected to take up to two years. Although no specific projects have been disclosed, Suma says the company's goal is to have "a more efficient product line which is modular in concept".
The main goal for New Piper is market expansion, Suma says, as aircraft delivery numbers are expected to fall this year by 58 to 232. "The biggest impediment to growth is getting people out to fly," he says.
The key to achieving this goal is to the get the cost of ownership down and aircraft reliability standards up, Suma says. "The general aviation industry must, through innovation, strive to achieve the durability standards of the car industry," he says.
"People think nothing of driving thousands of miles in their car without a hitch. Why should they not have same confidence with their aircraft?" he says.
In a further bid to increase awareness of its aircraft, New Piper plans, through its US dealer network, to establish a regional fractional ownership programme. Two pilot schemes operating Saratoga and Malibu Meridian types are in operation in the west and south-east USA and Suma hopes to launch the programme in about 12 months. Suma says New Piper continues to evaluate new products, including a twin-engined business jet, but any launch is at least two years away.
Source: Flight International
