International Sales Account For Nearly One-Fourth Of Total

It's another record for Cirrus Design. The Duluth-based planemaker announced Monday a third quarter company record of 529 airplane orders, according to results from the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association.

Cirrus credits the creation of a worldwide sales center network for the record number of sales. International orders accounted for 24 percent of all business through October, up from 5 percent in 2002.

"Once again, our factory-direct to the consumer sales model has proven itself, along with newly established international partnerships that facilitate reassembly in the UK for European sales and Australia for the Australasian markets," said Executive Vice-President Sales and Marketing, John M. Bingham. "In 2005, we anticipated a 26% increase in overall international sales and we are on target to make and exceed that goal."

Citing GAMA's figures, Cirrus says it remains the market category leader in high-performance, single-engine piston, four-place airplanes. The Cirrus SR22 also maintains its place as the world's best selling airplane for five years running. 

"We are encouraged by these sales figures and further motivated to continually develop technologies, features and programs that expand customer satisfaction and provide greater accessibility to our airplanes," said Cirrus President and COO David Coleal.

Cirrus' popular SR20 and SR22 composite airplanes incorporate innovative advanced technologies into the design, including the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). Cirrus also has a direct sales force in North America with sales centers across South America, Europe, China, Australasia, South Africa, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Russia.

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com