Roomy New Facility Brings Together CTLS And Four Seat C4

German Light-Sport Aircraft company Flight Design GmbH, which is now also the developer of larger aircraft like the four-seat C4, has expanded its operation to Kamenz, Germany and is now fully installed in spacious new quarters.

"We are now occupying a big hangar plus a smaller structure used for pre-delivery flight testing. The new quarters are located at a former military base, 100 miles south of Berlin with a 3,000 foot paved runway,” noted Flight Design GmbH board member and company director, Christian Wenger. “We are able to use the large hangar to stage finished aircraft after routine production and flight testing is complete. Once approved by engineers, Light-Sport Aircraft and European Ultralight aircraft are prepared for shipment to dealers in other countries or for pick up by European dealers and customers.” Departments include workshops for avionics and engine installation, composite repairs and painting, plus final assembly after receiving major components from another division outside Germany. The Kamenz facility takes over all responsibilities of Flight Design’s former Stuttgart center to further streamline operations, optimize costs, and reduce complexity in the manufacturing and distribution of CTLS Light-Sport Aircraft.

Inside the main building referred to as “Hangar 1” the company has ample office space for the EASA Part 21J Design Organization (including engineering and flight test) and EASA Part 21G Production Organization (including quality management staff and Production Management), for which approval is expected shortly. The upper floor on the northeast side is occupied by Finance & Administration, including meeting room and Directors office.

“Activity is high,” Wenger continued. “We hired additional staff since late 2013 at our Kamenz location and we have added mechanics and technical personnel recently.” Wenger added that the larger facility and additional workers are helping to reduce back log as the company adjusts to higher demand following slower years during the global recession. The company had previously done flight testing at a smaller remote facility but has also moved this function to the larger airport facility.

“Presently we employ 18 people in Kamenz,” Wenger said, “with 10 of them working on aircraft completion and delivery. The German company continues to own and operate a large component fabrication facility in Ukraine, which is constantly monitored and supervised by leading Flight Design personnel, including the Directors.

“Flight Design GmbH has been working diligently to increase production as orders rose throughout 2013,” noted Tom Peghiny president of Flight Design USA, the official representative for the German aircraft maker. “Company directors reduced staff and inventories during the economic downturn, but it now appears we have solidly turned the corner. We are pleased to note the new Kamenz facility has already increased efficiency and quality by a significant margin.”

(Images provided by Flight Design)

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com