States Customers Need Not Worry at This Point

Hoping to calm customer worries in the wake of the April 24 insolvency filing by Thielert Aircraft Engines AG, Diamond Aircraft issued a statement May 2 to all customers and service centers for the DA42 TwinStar and the DA40tdi, to reassure customers of the company's continuing efforts to provide support for current and future aircraft.

Thielert Aircraft Engines AG ousted company founder and former CEO Frank Thielert and CFO Roswitha Grosser on April 24, and filed for insolvency due to discrepancies in the company's annual financial statements for 2003 through 2005. The situation caused Cessna to suspend introduction of the 172TD earlier this week, as ANN reported.

Diamond said its senior management plans to meet with Thielert AG leadership and insolvency administrators in Europe next week, to clarify the situation in regards to continued service support and engine deliveries

In the interim, Diamond is compiling a central inventory of new and used spare parts and developing plans for medium and long term parts needs in support of powerplants on delivered aircraft. TAE technical support is operational and available, but delays in service and response to inquiries are anticipated.

Pending arrangement with the newly-appointed TAE Insolvency Administrator, Dr. Bruno M. Kuebler, Diamond intends continued production of the DA42 (and DA40tdi in Europe) with TAE engines. Over 30 DA42's currently in production are awaiting engines, and Diamond reports deliveries will be delayed.

The sole powerplant choice on the DA42, TAE's Centurion 2.0 liter offers low fuel burn and longer range, over comparable avgas-fueled engines. The Centurion features the simplified Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) technology, reducing pilot workload in power management through the various phases of flight.

"The TAE situation has our highest attention and that we are doing our very best to minimize impact on our valued customers and business partners," Diamond said. "We sincerely appreciate everyone's cooperation and patience."

Kuebler was appointed as insolvency administrator for TAE on April 25. According to statements on his website, Dr. Kuebler has administered over 1000 insolvencies since 1978. This list includes technical production organizations such as Aquila, a German ultralight aircraft manufacturer, that emerged from insolvency after three years.

FMI: www.diamondair.com, www.thielert.com, www.kuebler-gbr.de