Fri, Aug 04, 2006
January 31, 2007 Last Day For Orders
Aero-News has learned that Raven Industries subsidiary Aerostar
International, Inc, announced this week it will be getting out of
the hot-air balloon business, due to what it terms the "steady
decline" of the hot air balloon industry. The company states
January 31st, 2007 is the last day it will accept orders for hot
air balloon systems, or major components.
"The entire General Aviation Industry took a marked decline
after 9/11 and the hot air balloon industry has never recovered,"
said Aerostar President and Chief Engineer Mark West. "This coupled
with significant increases in liability insurance costs has made
for a business model that is no longer feasible. Unfortunately we
cannot afford to stay in a business which is not profitable, even
though it is the product line that founded Aerostar."
West added hot-air balloon manufacturing has accounted for less
than 4 percent of Aerostar's overall sales. The company will
continue to provide support for hot air balloons, and other
components manufactured by Aerostar and Raven. The company will
also continue to sell repair parts for those aircraft.
Aerostar also plans to remain active within the hot air balloon
community, promoting safety through education safety programs and
continuous airworthiness seminars.
The company will also continue to offer complete service
information for hot air balloon owners at its website -- available
at the FMI link below -- as well as access to all Service
Letters, Service Bulletins, Maintenance Bulletins, Airworthiness
Directives and ACAI (Aerostar Continued Airworthiness
Instructions).
These documents are available to be downloaded, free of charge,
by all aircraft owners and repair stations.
Aerostar management emphasized the move will have no impact on
its high-altitude research balloon operations -- located in Sulphur
Springs, TX -- or other product lines.
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