Julian Moxon/PARIS
FRENCH general-aviation manufacturer Socata is talking to its German counterpart Grob about a possible alliance. "Our product lines are very complementary," says Socata president, Jean-Marc de Raffin.
The Le Bourget, Paris-based Aerospatiale subsidiary says that it is also talking to Italy's Piaggio, and other European and US companies, but a tie-up with Grob is thought to be most likely. "They have a very high-quality product," says de Raffin. According to one source, the deal would probably take the form of an alliance rather than a straight purchase, with common marketing of each other's products.
Socata produces a range of four-seat metal-construction light aircraft, which have sold well in the airline-training market, as well as the TBM 700 six-seat turbine single and the Omega and Epsilon military trainers.
Grob offers four versions of its two-seat glassfibre-reinforced- plastic G115 aircraft, for ab initio civil and military training, along with a range of gliders, and the Strato high-altitude research aircraft. It is test flying the GF200 four-place pusher business aircraft. The German manufacturer has confirmed that talks are under way with Socata.
"This year we are pursuing three main targets," says de Raffin, "adapting to the market, alliances and improvements in competitiveness". The market was "very difficult" in 1994, yet Socata, which lost Fr135 million ($25.5 million) in 1993, improved its performance significantly and would have shown a profit if not for a provision of Fr45 million. Turnover increased by 13.8%, to Fr831 million.
A total of 124 aircraft were delivered during the year - an increase of 24.6% on 1993.
Source: Flight International
