23:00 18 July 2005Business Aviation Manufacturers Business aircraft smaller than VIP airliners Operators
<P><B>Market research suggests Italian manufacturer is set to produce new aircraft to meet corporate challenge</B></P> <P>Market researcher Forecast International is conducting an online survey on behalf of an unidentified “world-ranked aircraft manufacturer” to evaluate the market for a family of new light and medium business jets that bear a striking resemblance to Piaggio’s P180 Avanti twin-turboprop. </P> <P><IMG alt=Piaggio src="../assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=9226"></P> <P>Piaggio declines to comment on whether it commissioned the market study, describing the resemblance as “circumstantial”, but the Italian manufacturer has previously said it is studying a possible family of jets. </P> <P>“Piaggio is looking at future possible products, we’ve been saying that for years, but there has been no decision,” says Massimo Isidori, vice-president aircraft sales, Europe and the Middle East. “When we’re ready we’ll make the proper announcement.”</P> <P>Piaggio is believed to have been