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New Piper: Too Early to Predict Eclipse Impact
New Piper president and CEO Chuck Suma says he'd have a "tough
time predicting" what, if any impact, the Eclipse 500 will
have on sales for the Vero Beach, Fla.-based manufacturer.
He said the failure of several other light jets-even after first
flight-and the uncertainties of aircraft certification programs
make it hard to know when the Eclipse will actually enter the
marketplace. Suma notes there's a "clear indication of slippage"
in the timetable for the $837,500 personal jet and says he expects
to see price increases for the aircraft going forward.
More significant, he says, is the introduction of Cessna's new
Mustang entry-level jet, which he says "gives the market
more credibility." New Piper had considered the possibility
of its own personal jet program, but back-burnered the project
until its Meridian entered service. That project is still a possibility,
although resolving New Piper's current financial struggles appears
to take precedence.
Suma did allow that New Piper had looked at other light jet programs
in various states of development-including the Century jet and
Visionaire Vantage-but concluded that there would be little value
in an alliance, since each of the programs were in such early
stages of development with little in the way of specs and technical
drawings.
New Piper announced three new initiatives at NBAA, including a
joint program with USAIG to educate ramp workers at New Piper
dealers, an insurance referral service to help owners of New Piper
aircraft secure insurance at a good rate, and an increase in useful
load of the Malibu Meridian.
Due to structural changes required for the load increase, the option will
be available only on new Meridians. Existing aircraft cannot be
retrofitted for the improvements.
Suma says the manufacturer is on track to deliver 315 aircraft
worth $174 million this year. Much of that demand is from flight
schools for low-priced trainers.
Visit New Piper Aircraft, Inc. at Static 5 here at NBAA Orlando.
By David Rimmer
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