Aero-News learned this week that Cirrus Design Corp. signed a
new international partnership with Sunland Aviation of Brisbane,
Australia. The agreement allows Sunland Aviation, a subsidiary of
"Cirrus Australasia", to perform the reassembly of Cirrus aircraft
sold in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Rim.
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Cirrus
Australasia," said John M. Bingham, Cirrus Executive Vice-President
of Sales & Marketing. "Our confidence in the company and it's
highly respected Cirrus trained staff, create a sound basis for our
second reassembly operation outside the United States."
Under terms of the agreement, all Cirrus aircraft will continue
to be assembled at the company headquarters in Minnesota, and will
carry a US airworthiness certificate. All Aussie-bound planes will
then be partially dismantled at the Cirrus plant, and shipped to
Australia within a custom container designed specifically for
Cirrus.
"In January 2006, Cirrus pioneered the reassembly concept with
the United Kingdom's only specialized commercial airplane
manufacturer, Britten-Norman," Bingham added. "After the ease and
success of that joint venture, which calls for the reassembly and
delivery of 100 aircraft each year for European customers, the
natural next step is to expand to our partners in Australasia. We
are optimistic about similar success with Sunland and our ability
to better serve pilots and owners in this important region."
Steve Maltby, Director of Cirrus Australasia, said "Unlike other
aviation companies I have worked with, Cirrus has a different
approach. We are a part of the worldwide Cirrus family. We are
treated with integrity and have received unparalleled training and
the highest level of support in setting up this reassembly
operation in Australia."
"We have already delivered our first Australian assembled
aircraft to a customer and the process was smooth and successful.
We are projecting 25 aircraft over the course of the next year and
are confident we will meet that goal," concluded Maltby (above,
right).
Currently, Cirrus Australasia maintains and sells Cirrus
aircraft, along with providing training for both pilots and
maintenance personnel within the Australian and New Zealand
markets.
Cirrus manufactures the SR20 and SR22 personal aviation aircraft
that provide unprecedented levels of performance, quality and
safety. The composite airplanes incorporate innovative advanced
technologies into the design, including the unique Cirrus Airframe
Parachute System (CAPS™).
Cirrus has a direct sales force in North America with sales
centers across South America, Europe, China, Australasia, South
Africa, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Russia.