Avions Pierre Robin is reorganising its manufacturing capability in an attempt to step-up production rates and reduce the growing order backlog.
The process began in October when the carbonfibre, high performance CAP 202 and CAP 222 aerobatic aircraft were relocated to a new production site at its Darios, Dijon, site in France. In January the light aircraft manufacturer plans to transfer production of its Cap 10 side-by-side all-wooden aircraft from the former Avions Mudry factory in Bernay to Darois, where it will fit alongside the four-seat DR400 variant. "There are now nine aircraft on order and the production rate at Bernay is insufficient to meet demand," says Robin's UK distributor, Mistral Aviation. The Bernay factory will now house the CAP 232 production line, and there are no plans to close the plant at this stage.
The CAP 10 and 232 aerobatic aircraft lines were acquired by Robin's parent company Aeronautique Services in 1997, when Normandy-based Mudry went bankrupt. Shortly after, it joined forces with Akrotech USA, now renamed Aerobatics Unlimited, to certificate the CAP 202 and the recently certificated CAP 222 for the European market.
Overcapacity problems are hampering Robin plans to manufacture a complete range of all- metal aircraft to add to its existing two-seat R200 trainer and R2160 aerobatic derivative. Production of the four-seat, all-metal Aiglon II, which was scheduled for first deliveries early this year, has been put on hold, while the manufacturer "concentrate on the high demand for its existing product line".
Robin is now redeveloping a variant of the four-seat R3000 for the US market.
Source: Flight International
