Anyone visiting AirVenture this week in Oshkosh will get a
first-hand glimpse of the excitement coming out of the Columbia
Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (CAM). Most obvious is the new
face of the Company, with a new logo, corporate colors and show
display, it’s obvious that more than just the name has
changed.
The centerpiece of CAM’s exhibit is a semi-truck and
trailer that opens up and out to create an interactive Columbia
experience. The truck and trailer are also the central element of
Columbia’s Fly Columbia Tour that is making its way around
the United States this summer.
Full details on the Fly Columbia Tour as well as anything else
Columbia-related can be found at the Company’s newly
re-designed Web site, www.flycolumbia.com.
The site contains comprehensive details on all Columbia aircraft
as well as information on purchasing an aircraft, financing options
and tax advantages. CAM officials note that this is only version
1.0 of a site that will constantly evolve and grow.
“The bottom line
is this is an exciting time at Columbia Aircraft,” said CAM
Vice President of Marketing and Sales Randy S. Bolinger.
“We’re in the process of establishing Columbia as a
worldwide brand. At the same time, we’re also setting
production records nearly every month. We’re expanding our
customer care programs and distribution channel. We’re doing
all of the things necessary to provide our customers with the
premium ownership experience.” -
A key element in that ownership experience equation is
CAM’s recent creation of the Columbia Aircraft Repair &
Maintenance Associates network, or CARMA. This growing network
includes 70 top flight FBOs across the United States, many of which
are affiliated with the AirBP FBO network, known for its aviation
expertise and premium customer service. CAM has also initiated the
Columbia Mobile Training Program that takes factory maintenance and
service training to FBOs in the United States. Sessions, already
underway, are scheduled to continue through the remainder of the
year and into 2006.
To assist customers in buying their Columbia Aircraft, CAM also
recently established Columbia Aircraft Finance. The new division is
staffed with experienced aircraft financing professionals with
access to a variety of funding sources and financing options.
Because they are a division of CAM, Columbia Aircraft Finance can
help save Columbia buyers money in the form of lower interest rates
and flexible programs, and can also assist with the myriad of other
details that often complicate financing an aircraft through a
traditional bank or lending institution.
Farther from home, CAM has also added three new International
Sales and Service Centers in the past three months and delivered
its first aircraft to the UK, Australia and Mexico.
“We’re in a rapid growth phase, but we’re
managing that growth to maintain our hallmark high levels of
quality and customer service,” Bolinger said.
“We’re getting a lot more aircraft into the field
while simultaneously improving the experience for our customers.
It’s a really exciting time to be a part of this
organization.”
Columbia Aircraft manufactures two certified aircraft models.
The Columbia 350 is a normally aspirated, four-place aircraft with
a cruise speed of 191 knots. The Columbia 400 is an intercooled
twin-turbocharged, four-place aircraft certified to FL250 with a
cruise speed of 235 knots. In addition to providing legendary
performance, both models are renowned for their high level of
standard equipment, quality and safety features, including dual
electrical systems, dual wing spars, spin resistant/spin recovery
features and Utility Category certification.