Banner Year Sets Multiple Records; Production Increase and
Plant Expansion Recorded
It was a VERY GOOD YEAR
for Cirrus Design. The company reported 600 new aircraft shipped in
2005, representing an increase of 9.2% over 2004. The company
registered 701 new aircraft orders during fiscal year 2005.
On the manufacturing side, CIRRUS reached a production milestone
by manufacturing its 2,000th airplane in 2005 while setting monthly
sales records in January and November.
"2005 was a very good year for CIRRUS! There has not been
another start-up company in the last 50 years to accomplish what we
have - which is to deliver 2,000 airplanes in less than six years,"
said CIRRUS CEO Alan Klapmeier.
According to 2005 GAMA shipment data CIRRUS remains the
market category leader in high-performance, single-engine piston,
four-place airplanes. The CIRRUS SR22 was for the fourth
consecutive year the world's best selling airplane in 2005. CIRRUS
attributes much of the growth to its maturing international sales
distribution network and its established domestic direct sales
team.
"Our aircraft deliveries put CIRRUS ahead of last year's
anticipated totals and well beyond our own target. This is both a
reflection of everyone's hard work and the unique CIRRUS
factory-direct to the consumer sales model. CIRRUS has no dealers
or dealer network able to stockpile idle or un-sold inventory. Our
numbers are actual - they represent orders taken - planes built and
planes delivered," according to John M. Bingham, Executive Vice
President, Sales and Marketing.
"CIRRUS will also increase its international branding and sales
efforts in 2006 in an attempt to increase overall international
sales to at least 26% of our total volume," stated Bingham.
To keep pace with its sales success and owner appeal, CIRRUS is
expanding manufacturing capacity in Duluth and Grand Forks, N.D.
New construction at these existing facilities will accommodate the
sales driven boom in aircraft production and the growing CIRRUS
workforce.
"We surpassed our 2005 sales forecast and expect steady
production increases as we create and satisfy the consumer demand
for safe, technologically advanced planes," added CIRRUS President
David Coleal.
"In addition to the expansion we are always focusing on customer
satisfaction through continuously enhancing our delivery process,
service capability and ultimately providing our customers with the
highest quality, most innovative plane on the market. The
goal being to bring customer satisfaction to new levels, as seen by
the SR22 being the best selling plane four years in a row," Coleal
concluded.