Neither Rain Nor Snow... Nor Hail
'Let Your Dreams Take
Flight' is the slogan for Columbia Aircraft... but this year
started out as more of a nightmare.
Weather in Salem, OR delayed the certification of the Garmin
G1000 panel during the first part of the year. Only a move of the
whole works to Phoenix, where the weather was much more
cooperative, allowed the certification to be completed. With the
certification completed during late February and March,
certification was granted the beginning of April. Columbia then
delivered 20 aircraft that month and almost 20 in May.
June was shaping up just fine for deliveries as well... right up
until the hailstorm sprinkled 66 brand new Columbia's with unwanted
dimples.
"God decided we were getting a little cocky and sent a hailstorm
our way," mused Bing Lantis, President and CEO of Columbia Aircraft
(below).
Since there had been no data with regard to hailstorms versus
composite aircraft and an in depth examination of the aircraft
needed to take place. Stripping down, checking the layers and
structural testing had to be done.
"The fallout was that there was no structural damage to the
aircraft it was strictly cosmetic," said Lantis.
The sanding and repainting was actually easier said than done.
Since Columbia paints its planes prior to assembly, they had no
full size paint booth. The last of those repaints will be done by
the end of the year.
With the nightmares, hopefully, behind them Columbia can return
to a semblance of normalcy. "Our company has been operating
profitably since late summer." Lantis announced this happy
milestone.
Another milestone, more fitting of the Columbia slogan, had
pilot Sherry Gettinger taking ownership of Columbia's 500th
production aircraft.
Gettinger (above left) was convinced that a Cessna 182 would be
the "logical choice for our first aircraft" -- but then she swayed
to Columbia. "I was just blown away by how gently the aircraft
handled." Gettinger remarked.
In other happy news, Columbia has expanded it's sales to
Southern Africa -- making a total of 31 countries where Columbia
aircraft are sold. This will add even more proud owners to the
Columbia family.
Being a proud owner or flyer of a Columbia aircraft does have
its perks. Randy Bolinger, VP of Columbia Aircraft Marketing and
Business Development spoke about the contest sponsored by Columbia
and BP.
The contest -- dubbed The Sea Level Cruise contest -- asked
owners to submit their Columbia stories of interesting and exciting
travels done with their airplane. The Grand Prize winner, Jared Max
Hendler, shared a story of love.
Traveling eight hours roundtrip to visit his girlfriend in New
York City from his home in Washington DC, Hendler knew there was a
better way. He earned his pilot license and purchased a Columbia
400. The round trip was now an hour, the better to spend more time
with his lady love. Hendler's Grand prize was a $5,000 fuel card oh
and his girlfriend's hand in marriage, since they are now
engaged.
The Judge's Choice went to Bill Hammack (above), who traveled
from New Orleans, LA to Le Bourget, just outside of Paris with
friend Jack Showers. The trip took 25.5 hours flown over the course
of five days. This trip was a "warm up" for Hammack of fulfilling
his lifelong dream to fly his plane around the world.
Columbia representatives also stated the year 2007 is shaping up
to look like a 250 aircraft year, about the same as 2006 would have
been without Mother Nature interfering.