GippsAERO, the Australian based manufacturer of the GA8 Airvan utility aircraft, announced today, the appointment of Flightline Group, Inc. as the authorized dealer for the southeastern United States.
In support of the significant North American market for the GA8 Airvan, (shown at right) GippsAERO announced in July 2011 their intention to establish an assembly plant in North America and to build a comprehensive dealership network in North America. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone within that promised North American dealership network.
Flightline Group, Inc., established in 1982, is a diverse, regional group of companies dedicated to providing extraordinary aviation sales and support services through facilities in Tallahassee, FL (KTLH), Vero Beach, FL (KVRB) and Memphis, TN. Flightline will represent GippsAERO products across a 9-State territory in the southeastern U.S., covering the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina and North Carolina. Flightline companies have a long history of successful general aviation sales and customer support in the southeastern U.S., for piston-powered, turbo-prop and turbo-jet powered personal and business aircraft.
Mr. Arvind Mehra, Senior V.P. Strategy & Director for Mahindra Aerospace noted “In Flightline and the other North American dealers we hope to sign soon, we believe our dealer network will help us grow market awareness and visibility in North America while providing an additional level of value to our current GA8 and GA10 owners and future customers. We enter into our dealership agreements with an eye towards building long-term relationships with our dealer partners and with our customers and owners.”
Paul “Mac” Langston, Flightline Group’s Chairman of the Board said “The whole team at Flightline Group is honored to partner with the GippsAERO and Mahindra Aerospace team to bring the high-utility GA8 Airvan to the U.S. marketplace. We believe in the GippsAERO team and in their vision and ability to design, build and deliver an aircraft that provides a highly-sought level of utility, at a truly impressive level of quality, providing for unprecedented ruggedness and versatility. We are looking forward to introducing the GA8 Airvan and the future GippsAERO products to the aviation market in the southeastern U.S.”
The GA8 Airvan is a single-engine, piston powered aircraft, available in a normally-aspirated or turbocharged version. The GA8 allows for seven individual forward-facing passenger seats and up to 32 cu.ft. of baggage space, with a large, comfortable cabin with center aisle and easy access. The performance envelope and cabin design allows the aircraft to be used across a broad range of demanding missions including passenger transport, freight transportation, special missions/law enforcement, humanitarian aid, search & rescue, ambulance/medivac, among others. Certified to U.S. FAR23 Amendment 54/55, the Airvan is designed and built to the highest standard of structural integrity and flight handling characteristics. The Airvan boasts a low noise footprint and low carbon emissions all the while being versatile, rugged, safe and economical at a MSRP of $699,000.
Building on the success of the GA8, GippsAERO is in the flight testing phase of their development program to bring the GA10 single-engine Rolls-Royce turbo-prop powered 10-seat aircraft to market. Construction of the manufacturing facility for the GA10 has begun in Australia, and Australian and FAA certification is expected in early 2013.
Dr. Terry Miles, CEO of GippsAERO, added “Flightline Group embodies the dedication to customer service and satisfaction that our customers demand. GippsAERO is excited about partnering with Flightline and the way our partnership complements our shared vision for the future. We will be introducing additional North American dealers in the coming weeks, and we are confident that our new distribution network will increase our responsiveness to this important market.”
About GippsAERO/Mahindra Aerospace
GippsAero, the Australian manufacturer of the GA8 AIRVAN, is the aircraft manufacturing division of Mahindra Aerospace. The company has manufactured in excess of 200 aircraft, which fly in 34 countries around the world, including USA, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Mahindra Aerospace is the aircraft and aero-structure manufacturing division of Mahindra Systech, and a new global player in the delivery of aircraft, aero-structures and aircraft development services. With its acquisition of two Australia-based aviation companies, Aerostaff Australia – producer of aerospace components for the world’s OEMs – and GippsAero – producer of the Airvan family of utility aircraft – Mahindra Aerospace has laid the foundations towards achieving its goals.
About The Mahindra Group
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers.
A US $14.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.
In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow. In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.
For further information, please visit www.mahindra.com
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