New Zealand utility aircraft manufacturer Pacific Aerospace (PAL) is targeting the Middle East and North Africa in its latest sales campaign following recent sales success in southern Africa. The manufacturer attended November's Dubai air show for the first time with its 10-seat P-750XL turboprop utility, flying an aircraft over 16,650km (9,000nm) from the company's Hamilton airport base.
In the last four years PAL has delivered 36 aircraft to 10 countries, with a further 16 aircraft on forward order. "We believe that with the huge amount of growth in aviation-related industry in the region, the United Arab Emirates will be a very important part of PAL's growth strategy," says Damian Camp, chief executive. "It [the P-750XL] is leagues ahead of other utility aircraft, especially in hot and high conditions, where it often serves as the only supply line to remote locations. This was something that potential operators in the Middle East region could relate to," he adds.
The company's South African sales agent Naturelink has forward orders for seven aircraft, with the aircraft being evaluated in the region by the United Nations World Food Programme and the South African Air Force, says PAL.
The P-750XL is the only single-engined aircraft to be approved for use by all the major oil companies operating in Africa, says Camp. "As we grow the African fleet beyond the seven aircraft already operating there we will continue to see strong sales growth. Now we just need to build more of them," he adds.
Source: Flight International