First Europe, Then Beyond?
Cirrus Aircraft
announced Wednesday that UK-based Britten-Norman will now provide
final re-assembly of SR20 and SR22 aircraft slated for delivery to
European customers.
Britten-Norman, located in Southern England, will perform final
Cirrus aircraft re-assemblies -- including wing and tail attachment
-- initially for European customers, before potentially looking to
other geographic markets in the future. The project will be
overseen by Britten-Norman's recently created Aero Composites
arm.
"We are delighted to have reached this agreement with one of
Europe’s best known and highly respected aircraft
manufacturers," said John M. Bingham, Cirrus Executive
Vice-President of Sales & Marketing. "This arrangement brings
many new advantages to our European-based customers, with the
principle feature that their new airplane will no longer have to
endure the rigors of a trans-Atlantic ferry flight as part of the
delivery process."
Britten-Norman has over 40 years of experience in the
manufacture, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of light
aircraft. Flights will operate from the Britten-Norman airport
facility at Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, UK.
David Coleal, Cirrus Executive Vice-President and Chief
Operating Officer said, "Cirrus is excited to now have the
opportunity to deliver our airplanes to European customers as if
they were coming straight from the Minnesota-based factory. The
value that this collaboration with Britten-Norman provides for the
customer is that each plane will arrive after only amassing a few
hours of flight time and engine hours versus the 30-40 required for
a ferry flight, plus a reduction in overall wear-and-tear."
Cirrus aircraft bound for Europe will be fully assembled in the
US, according to Bingham, and will receive their US Certificate of
Airworthiness. The planes will then be partially disassembled and
crated in specially-designed shipping containers, before being sent
overseas to Britten-Norman.
"Every detail has been addressed to assure that the planes are
kept in pristine condition during shipment," added Coleal.
"We’ve even installed accelerometers into the containers to
keep us informed if the shipment should be disturbed in any
way."
Britten-Norman Group Executive Chief William Hynett said, "We
have already processed the first pilot plane of this joint venture
and everything in the re-assembly process worked perfectly. We will
begin customer aircraft assemblies commencing in January of 2006
and are projecting 100 planes for the first year."
To date, Cirrus has delivered 250 planes to customers on the
European continent, according to the Duluth, MN-based manufacturer.
Additionally, in the past eighteen months Cirrus has increased
their European sales centers from three to twelve.
"Europe is key for
Cirrus as our airplanes are a natural fit for the wide
cross-section of uses and requirements demanded by their
marketplace," said Bingham.
Britten-Norman is the UK’s only commercial aircraft
manufacturer, producing and supplying some well-known and
highly-regarded aircraft –- the famous Britten-Norman
Islander (file photo at right), Trislander and Defender 4000.
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