Mooney Aircraft has started taking deposits for 2010 models as it eyes restarting production after an 18-month hiatus.

The Florida-based manufacturer, faced with excess inventory at the onset of the economic downturn, halted production in November 2008 and furloughed most of its workforce.

Mooney said at the show that it has no longer has any inventory, having sold 26 factory-owned aircraft in 2009. In February it began taking deposits for new aircraft. But while Mooney is working on a restart plan, including talking to suppliers, it has not yet set a date for resuming production.

"We have all intentions of restarting production when demand is there," Mooney says.

Source: Flight International