AVIONS PIERRE Robin has launched a comprehensive market study aimed, says new president Jean-Paul Pellissier, at "looking at all our options for the future".
Pellissier, whose family owns Robin, took over the running of the Dijon, France-based company in January. With sales of around 50 aircraft in 1995, the company produced a turnover of Fr80 million ($16 million), and is operating "at a profit", he says.
The market analysis initially covers all French light-aircraft operators and owners, and will be extended later to include the UK and Germany. Pellissier says that the main market for Robin aircraft remains Europe, although Robin wants to break into the US market. The backbone of Robin's business remains the all-wood, four-seat DR400, which, in its full instrument-flight-rules version, sells for around Fr800,000-1 million.
"It is still competitive because of its low cost of production," says Pellissier. The company also manufactures the metal two-seat Robin R200, the aerobatic R2160 and four-seat R3000.
"The study will tell us whether we ought to launch a new aircraft, or simply improve our existing range," he adds. While Robin has been developing the technologies for an all-new aircraft through its X-4 programme, Pellissier says that there are arguments for updating its range, because development costs are largely amortised.
Source: Flight International