Piper Aircraft Inc. has named 30-year aerospace veteran Michael Dow as chief of Production for the company’s new single-engine business jet, the PiperJet Altaire. He reports to Piper Vice President of Operations Simon Caldecott.
Michael Dow is a successful manufacturing executive with substantial experience in aerospace engineering and operations, said Caldecott. He has served in leadership roles for military and commercial products including weapons systems, tactical fighters, helicopters, remotely piloted aircraft and commercial space launch vehicles along with development of new-type commercial aircraft for international certification and production.
Dow was most recently group manager of Manufacturing Engineering & Tooling at Aurora Flight Sciences. Prior to that, he worked at Bell Helicopter for 11 years where he held leadership positions of increasing responsibility. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University and the University of Houston and he is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
Piper has committed 175 engineering personnel to the Altaire business jet program. The company is on schedule for first flight of conforming articles in 2012 and certification and first customer deliveries are planned for 2014.
About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. A global force in aviation, Piper offers efficient single-engine and twin-engine trainer, personal and business aircraft. Piper Aircraft designs, manufactures, sells and supports the strongest and broadest single-engine product line in the industry, from high-performance pistons to turboprops to the world’s most fuel-efficient seven-person business jet, the PiperJet Altaire. With economical acquisition and operating costs, Piper airplanes deliver the best value available today and into the future. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
