Reims Aviation is to restart its Cessna single assembly line in a deal which could see the French general-aviation company start work as early as July.
Three sets of knocked-down 172R Skyhawks sold to European customers by Cessna are already being shipped to Reims from the new Cessna singles manufacturing plant at Independence, Kansas.
The aircraft are assembled in the USA and then knocked down to three main sections for shipment to France for re-assembly.
Reims expects to start work on 182S Skylanes in September. It hopes to re-assemble between 60 and 70 aircraft in total this year and has a target of handling between 150 and 200 aircraft a year. Re-assembly of 206 Stationair and T206 Turbo Stationairs are expected to follow.
The company hopes to start doing some structures work on the programme eventually, although it is unlikely to return to its old position of licence-manufacturing the Cessna singles.
Source: Flight International
