Surviving and Thriving

New Piper has reemerged from the wake of last years hurricanes, bringing new technologies to the flight training market. The mood was jubilant Monday morning at New Piper's press conference, the first such event at AirVenture 2005.

"Piper is back and strong," announced CEO Chuck Suma.  "We're back into production, full production now, at about 25 aircraft per month. That's pretty much in line with what we were producing prior to the hurricanes coming in."

Suma announced the introduction of the CMax Electronic Approach Chart Display and XM Weather on all Piper entry level and mid-range aircraft equipped with the Avidyne FlightMax Entegra Integrated Flight Deck.

He also introduced Bruce Smith, Dean of the University of North Dakota's School of Aerospace and Sciences, to accept the keys to the first Piper Warrior equipped with the Avidyne system. The aircraft is one of seven new Warriors purchased by the school to add to its fleet of Piper training aircraft.

"This is a major step for us," said Smith. "We haven't had a training related fatality in 25 years, and twenty of those years have been with Piper aircraft."

Suma stressed the importance of the flight training market to Piper.

"This market and the ability to sell into this market is very important to our business model," said Suma. "The addition of these features means that these aircraft continue to lead in the market, by coupling a trusted and proven airframe with new technologies."

"Piper is here, and is here to stay."

FMI: www.newpiper.com