Piper Aircraft Inc. performed well during 2012, a year of steadiness and preparation for future growth that also marked the 75th anniversary of the company’s founding.
“We stabilized the manufacturing and delivery of new aircraft throughout the year as our initiative to level-load factory production met with success. At the same time our overall aircraft deliveries rose faster than the rest of the industry,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “The company also continued to work on long-range plans for the future.”
As the company firmly level-loaded increased aircraft production and deliveries, it continued to globally expand its dealer network, concentrated on delivering improved higher-end M-Class aircraft and recommitted to its trainer class line.
Deliveries of 2012 cabin-class M-Class aircraft featured enhanced cabin features for ease of access, brighter lighting, improved sound and electrical service, and better air distribution. Strengthening its commitment to pilot training, Piper delivered 10 Piper Seminole training aircraft to Airline Transport Professionals and completed delivery of 18 Piper Warrior training aircraft to Sekolah Tinggi Penerbang Indonesia, the government flight school at Budiarto Airport in Curug, Indonesia.
In 2012, Piper continued to expand its global network by announcing new representatives in the Netherlands, Chile, India, Central America, Korea, Turkey and China. The company also located a sales manager in China to further develop that growing potential market.
January
Piper Aircraft Inc. named Piper Netherlands, at Teuge International Airport, as the company’s sales representative in the Western European country. Its affiliate, Stella Aviation Maintenance, is responsible for parts and service.
February
Piper sent a senior group of sales executives to the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre adjacent to Changi Airport. Heading the delegation from the company’s Vero Beach headquarters was Piper’s Director of Marketing, Jacqueline Carlon.
The company named a dealer for its new airplane sales in Chile. Eagle South America S.A., located near Santiago at the Aérodromo de Chicureo and headed by General Manager Martin Andrés Busquets, handles Piper sales in the South American country.
March
Aircraft Search & Aviation Professionals’ Piper India was named a dealer for Piper in India. The announcement was made at India Aviation 2012, held at the Begumpet Airport. Piper India has a strategic alliance with Saraya Aviation Pvt. Ltd., at IGI Domestic Airport in Delhi, for maintenance and servicing of Piper aircraft in the country.
The company exhibited airplanes from its M-Class business aircraft and trainer product lines at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla. The iconic fun flying venue was the launch event for a year-long celebration of Piper’s 75th anniversary, highlighted with the display of a vintage Piper Cub and a Celebratory breakfast for customers and invited guests. A twin-engine Seminole trainer destined for Redbird Flight Simulations’ innovative research and development laboratory was delivered to Jerry Gregoire, Owner of Redbird Flight Simulations.
Piper received a contract for machined parts from Triton Submarines LLC of Vero Beach. The contract called for complex multi-axis machined parts destined for Triton’s submersibles.
April
Piper named Duran Aviation Inc. as a dealer for new airplane sales in Central America. Duran Aviation is a part of Company Consultenos, S.A., which is a family-owned company that is involved in several businesses, including automotive, golfing, and real estate.
The company exhibited a major portion of its training and business aircraft line at AERO Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany. The company partnered with Piper Generalvertretung Deutschland Ag, SimAvia Russia and Winters Aviation in Belgium and France, which displayed their demonstrator aircraft at the show.
Piper Aircraft Inc. completed delivery of 18 Piper Warrior training aircraft to Sekolah Tinggi Penerbang Indonesia, the government flight school at Budiarto Airport in Curug, Indonesia. Sekolah Tinggi Penerbang Indonesia (STPI) educates pilots under the auspices of the Ministry of Transportation for the Republic of Indonesia.
May
The company announced that its dealers in Europe had noted a sales trend toward new, more fuel-efficient Piper airplanes as companies downsized from twin-engine aircraft. Early year performance was stronger than anticipated for the entire year.
Piper added the Kelly Aerospace ThermaCool air-conditioning system to new 2012 twin-engine Piper Seminoles and made the system available via retrofit for the Seminole fleet.
June
Piper Aircraft Inc. and Winters Aviation, its authorized aircraft dealer in France and Belgium, exhibited three M-Class single-engine turboprop Meridians at the 6th Cannes International General Aviation Exhibition at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport. While at the show, Piper and Winters Aviation sold the 10th new M-Class single-engine aircraft for delivery into the European continent in 2012.
July
Piper and Pratt & Whitney Canada announced a 10-year agreement for the continuing purchase of PT6A-42A turboprop engines to power Piper’s flagship aircraft, the single-engine M-Class Meridian.
Piper Aircraft celebrated the company’s and the Piper Cub’s 75th Anniversary all week during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012. Additionally, the company exhibited its single-engine M-Class aircraft lineup and several twin-engine aircraft along with the famed Piper Cub, which launched the company in 1937. EAA AirVenture 2012 also was the initial site for a multistate demonstration tour for the Piper Seneca V twin-engine turbocharged aircraft.
The company named Korea Business Air Service Co. Ltd. as the dealer for new aircraft sales in the Republic of Korea.
August
Piper named Jeremy Prost, a veteran of aviation in China, as the company’s sales manager for Asia. With a focus of developing Piper sales in China, Prost is based in China and reports to Piper’s Director of Global Fleet Sales, Chuck Glass.
September
Piper Aircraft delivered the landmark 500th pressurized single-engine turboprop M-Class Meridian to SouthEast Piper for delivery to a Florida-based owner.
The company and Aircraft Technical Publishers announced that access to all Piper maintenance publications and regulatory documents would be available exclusively through the ATP Aviation Hub™ Online Service and ATP’s NavigatorV™ Desktop Platform.
In conjunction with its worldwide dealer network, Piper announced a heavy round of marketing activities and aircraft exhibitions for the remainder of the year. Fresh from presenting Piper airplanes to customers at venues in Brazil, South Africa, Singapore, China and Canada, Piper scheduled aircraft exhibitions at additional aerospace venues in Europe, India, China, Mexico, Africa, Japan and the United States through November.
Piper Aircraft appointed BAYMAP Aviation, Ankara, Turkey, as its dealer for new aircraft sales in the Middle Eastern country that straddles Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia.
October
Piper unveiled the improved Premier Elegance interior collection for its top-of-the-line aircraft at the National Business Aviation Association’s 65th Annual Meeting and Convention, held in Orlando. The company also exhibited single-engine M-Class business aircraft and a twin-engine Seneca V at the convention.
The Ferrari Club of America’s annual meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., featured a cabin and cockpit mockup of Piper Aircraft’s M-Class single-engine turbine-powered Meridian. It was the second consecutive year that Piper has exhibited at the annual Ferrari Club of America meeting.
Piper and Bimini Bay Resort & Marina announced they were co-sponsoring a chance drawing for private air travel and a weekend stay for two at the luxury Caribbean hotel to benefit the fight against breast cancer.
November
Piper Aircraft and the Piper Cub’s year-long 75th anniversary celebration culminated with a gala customer fly-in in Vero Beach. The fun-filled weekend featured a welcome reception, vendor exhibits, aircraft static display, customer awards, facility tours, a history lesson from Piper’s official historian, and a Piper meet-up and send-off pancake breakfast.
Piper Aircraft named Piper Summit Aircraft China Ltd., Beijing, as the aircraft manufacturer’s authorized dealer in China for sales of new Meridian single-engine turboprop aircraft. The new Piper dealer conducted a number of Meridian demonstrations for potential customers as the airplane flew en route for display at Airshow China 2012 held during the month in Zhuhai.
Piper and the Florida Institute of Technology launched a Piper Aviation Career Alliance to educate and provide enhanced vocational opportunities for aviation program graduates as well as graduates from other programs offered through the school. The five-year agreement includes a fleet of new Piper training aircraft for the institute and enhanced career opportunities for its students and graduates through Piper internships, scholarships, career interviews, and mentoring.
Piper incorporated the Garmin G1000 avionics suite into new twin-engine Piper Seminole and single-engine Piper Archer aircraft models available in 2013. Launch customer for the new Garmin G1000-equipped Pipers is the Florida Institute of Technology.
December
Piper reached agreements with the state of Florida and Indian River County to amend the company’s economic development incentive contracts with each government entity to retain the company’s headquarters and manufacturing operations in Vero Beach.
About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. The company offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the Meridian, Mirage and Matrix – offer businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca V and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Piper Aircraft
For further information, contact:
Jackie Carlon
Phone: (772) 299-2900
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to: Jackie.Carlon@piper.com
piper.com
