Plans To Produce 150 Aircraft In 2019

Diamond plans to double production at its London, Ontario, Canada facility next year bringing the number of airplanes produced to 150 and adding about 100 workers to the payroll.

The London Free Press reports that the plant will manufacture about 75 airplanes this year. Diamond's CEO in London Scott McFadzean told the paper that the market in China is about to "explode", and other demand is growing worldwide.

McFadzean said that the company is now building for the global market like it did previously for the North American market. He said that the Chinese market is "huge compared to Western countries."

McFadzean also said that the demand for pilot training is growing rapidly in the face of a projected pilot shortage over the next 20 years.

Diamond recently announced its largest aircraft order to date. Republic Airways’ Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy has ordered 110 airplanes from Diamond. The contract is valued at over $35 million, McFadzean said. The first 50 of those airplanes are scheduled for delivery through 2019.

McFadzean said that the company is in the process of opening another factory in China due to the anticipated demand for GA airplanes in that country.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report