Fri, Feb 04, 2011
You have to hand it to Piper, even though they had to kill the
PiperSport program after their dealings with the off-shore
manufacturer started getting too flaky, they showed up at Sebring
and acted like the pros that they are. They answered questions,
continued the process of helping the PiperSport dealers band
together to support the remaining aircraft, and showed the LSA
industry what a serious aircraft manufacturer does... even when
things don't go as planned.
Piper had created a stand-alone distributor network specifically
to market the aircraft manufactured and supported by Czech Sport
Aircraft and branded as the PiperSport.
As the company built that distributor network, Piper told ANN
(in the story we broke in mid-January) that it, "became clear that
Piper’s core strengths and that of Czech Sport Aircraft were
mismatched."
It's a tough situation for one of GA's most prominent
manufacturers... citing differences in business philosophies, Piper
announced that it had to terminate its business relationship with
Czech Republic-based Czech Sport Aircraft to market that
company’s Light Sport Aircraft.
CSA, on the other hand, has been evasive and less than positive
about the matter... engaging in some negativity and
finger-pointing... in direct contrast to Piper's stoic but
professional demeanor.
So... we spent some time with Piper's Director of Marketing,
Jackie Carlon, to see what Piper's plans are for their future
participation in the LSA market and what they have learned from a
year in the PiperSport business. Join us as we look at the past and
future of Piper's participation in the LSA market.
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