Piaggio Aero does not exclude the possibility of adding to its product line business jet, but no definite decision to launch a new program is unlikely to be made until 2017.
Carlo Loli appointed executive director of the Italian manufacturer in May 2014, said that priority Piaggio now focused on the transfer of the last three customers P.180 Avanti II and the beginning of deliveries in the third quarter of the new EVO. "Our engineers now have a lot of development," - says Loli. "However, the market is not ready for P1XX (twin-engine business jet), but that could change in a few years. We will monitor the situation. " Now the company is developing on the basis of Avanti II unmanned reconnaissance P.1HH Hammerhead, which is scheduled to enter service in 2015, and a multipurpose patrol plane, called MPA. Chapter Piaggio sure long-term prospects of the company under its new owner Mubadala. Investment and Development Company of Abu Dhabi took control of Piaggio last month, after the acquisition of shares of Tata Industries. Mubadala and Tata have had different views on the Piaggio, and this hindered the progress of the company.
"During the recession we had two negative factors," - says Loli. "This contradiction strategies shareholders and weak business aviation market. Mubadala now took control of Piaggio (98% stake), and we have a clear and firm strategy, which concentrates on defense segment and business aviation. "Deliveries Avanti II fell from a peak in 2008 of 30 aircraft to just two in 2013.
Now in the segment of business aviation company offers an updated EVO. The third generation of Avanti was launched in May, and this plane Piaggio hopes to breathe life into a program that has become a victim of the crisis in the aviation business. Flight tests EVO began in February 2014, and since then raid was 90 hours.
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