Diamond Receives Government Of Canada Investment
Diamond Aircraft tells ANN that it has received a hefty $19.6
million strategic, repayable investment from the Government of
Canada for research and development (R&D) of its D-JET,
personal light jet. The company announced it will manufacture the
innovative, new all-composite, five-seat aircraft at its facility
in London, Ontario, where the D-JET R&D program is based.
The Honourable Jim Prentice (shown below, right, with Diamond
Aircraft Industries President Peter Maurer) , Minister of Industry
for the Government of Canada, announced the investment during a
briefing, Saturday, at Diamond Aircraft's London facility.
The Canadian government's investment project will be funded from
the new Strategic Aerospace Defence Initiative (SADI). SADI
supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive
development (R&D) projects in the aerospace, defence, space and
security (A&D) industries. SADI is managed by the Industrial
Technologies Office, a special operating agency of Industry Canada
with a mandate to advance leading-edge R&D by Canadian
aerospace and defence industries.
"This investment will play a vital role in enabling our company
to complete the final development, flight testing and certification
of the D-JET, and to complete our transition to production," said
Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft Industries.
"There is already tremendous demand for this new aircraft and we
are excited about the opportunity to grow our already proven,
world-class team and operation here in southwestern Ontario to
deliver D-JET to our customers worldwide."
The Diamond D-JET offers a very comfortable and stylish
design; affordable single-engine, fuel efficient operation; and the
safety and reliability of the latest glass panel avionics, engine
and aeronautical technology. The $95.2 million D-JET R&D
program began in 2003.
Diamond's London operation today produces its DA20 two-seat
aircraft, DA40 family of 4-seat piston aircraft, and the DA42 light
twin turbo-diesel aircraft. Diamond employs 580 people in Canada
and has pioneered the development and manufacture of aircraft using
carbon fiber and related composite materials that are stronger,
lighter and more durable than metals.
Diamond Aircraft is the third largest producer worldwide of
airplanes in the under-three-ton weight class. The Diamond
group of companies has manufacturing facilities in Canada, Austria,
China, and Germany that provide aircraft, type-specific flight
training devices, and related general aviation products and
services. The company employs more than 1,500 people worldwide,
including 580 people in Canada.
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