Cirrus Aircraft remains committed to the single-engine Vision SF50 jet program, and with suspension of the Diamond D-Jet is now the front-runner in the race to bring a single-engine jet to market. Cirrus has hired more than 100 engineers, designers and technicians for the Vision team and is recruiting additional personnel, according to the company. Most recently, Cirrus promoted former executive v-p and COO Pat Waddick to president and COO.
Cirrus Vision SF50
February 3, 2013 - 1:45am
China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (Caiga), a subsidiary of state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), has started the “trial production” of a prototype for the new business jet it is planning to develop based on the existing Cirrus Vision SF50 design. Caiga acquired U.S.-based Cirrus Industries in 2011.
November 13, 2012 - 2:35pm
China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (Caiga) announced sales of 60 Cirrus SR20 and SR22 piston singles to various customers in China today. The deals, signed on the first day of Airshow China 2012, bring the to-date total number of Cirrus sales in China to more than 100, according to Paul Fiduccia, Cirrus Aircraft executive director for government affairs and international cooperation. Caiga owns U.S.-based Cirrus.
October 25, 2012 - 9:07am
Three grassroots general aviation business owners told Congress last month that user fees in any form would be “devastating” to the general aviation community. At a hearing called by the House Small Business Committee, the trio blasted President Obama’s call for a $100 per-flight fee for turbine-powered fixed-wing aircraft.
“The costs associated with user fees far outweigh any benefit to deficit reduction,” said National Air Transportation Association (NATA) treasurer Marian Epps, whose family operates Epps Aviation in Atlanta.
April 19, 2012 - 5:50pm
Cirrus Aircraft announced yesterday that it has secured funding to complete the composite single-engine Vision SF50 jet from company owner China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (Caiga). Development of the single-engine Vision jet slowed during the recession. When Caiga purchased Cirrus for an estimated $210 million last June, the company said that development of the Vision jet would continue.
February 4, 2012 - 3:40am
Cirrus has restructured more than $13 million worth of loan and lease obligations related to its Grand Forks, N.D. production facility with that city’s Growth Fund. Cirrus employs approximately 90 people in Grand Forks who make composite component parts for its SR-series piston aircraft, which are then shipped to the company’s assembly line in Duluth, Minn.
January 17, 2012 - 3:25pm
Cirrus restructured more than $13 million worth of loan and lease obligations related to its Grand Forks, N.D. production facility with that city’s growth fund. Cirrus employs approximately 90 people in Grand Forks who make composite component parts for its SR piston aircraft that are then shipped to the company’s assembly line in Duluth, Minn. Since 1996, Grand Forks has issued various bonds and loans in support of these activities, including construction of more than 160,000 sq ft of facilities.
December 4, 2011 - 12:10am
Shortly after Piper Aircraft posted billboards in Wichita advertising for engineers, the company suspended further development of the single-engine PiperJet Altaire, “following a review to align the company’s business goals with the light jet market outlook, investment strategies and overall economic forecasts.”
July 29, 2011 - 8:20am
Cirrus president and CEO Brent Wouters revealed during the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show this week that the company’s prototype SF50 Vision jet is in “commodity jurisdiction” at Williams International. The Williams FJ33 engine that powers the Vision jet may be subject to U.S. government concerns about exporting technology to China.
June 28, 2011 - 10:30am
China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (Caiga) of Zhuhai, China, completed its acquisition of Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Aircraft today. Sellers include private-equity firm Arcapita, which owned 60 percent of Cirrus, and minority shareholders (including former Cirrus chairman and co-founder Alan Klapmeier).
