US manufacturer seeks regional marketing partner as it targets FAA certification for four-seat amphibian
Four-seat amphibian light aircraft manufacturer Seawind is on the verge of flight testing the first of two pre-production Seawind 300Cs and is aiming for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in mid-December.
The US manufacturer says it is looking for a European partner “to help with sales, marketing and servicing” of the aircraft, which has already clocked up 46 sales – 16 at the recent Oshkosh AirVenture show. “We’re seeing considerable interest in Europe and especially East Europe, Russia and China,” says Seawind.
Production was initially planned at 24 aircraft in 2006, rising to 60 in 2007 and 110 in 2008. Interest is such that Seawind is bringing forward three months of production from 2007 to 2006, making between 35 and 37 aircraft available next year. “The challenge is to ensure we have the tooling and manufacturing capacity,” it says.
The first 12 aircraft off the line will be fitted with Garmin avionics, but Seawind is talking to Sagem about offering a glass cockpit option. “We haven’t finalised our talks,” it says, “but 75% of our customers have expressed interest in a glass cockpit and Sagem is very keen to work with us.”
JULIAN MOXON/LONDON
Source: Flight International
