INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Piper Aircraft’s “Seminole” has achieved the title of “Most popular twin-engine propeller aircraft in China,” an award given by U-Jet, the most widely circulated magazine on private aviation in China.
According to Jackie Carlon, director of marketing and corporate communications at Piper, seizing the award in China is significant considering the potential for growth in a Chinese market that is gaining speed in flight training, and general and business aviation.
“This acknowledgment by the Chinese aviation industry is greatly appreciated by the Piper Aircraft team and reflects the appeal of this aircraft in China and throughout the world,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott in a prepared statement.
“Our ongoing efforts to globalize the Piper brand and presence are proving successful,” he added.
According to Piper, the Seminole “performs multiple roles as an executive and personal transportation machine and as a popular twin-engine training platform.” The aircraft has “more than 20 years of proven service.” The statement continues, “Instructors appreciate the Piper Seminole’s ability to teach flight lessons in a safe and forgiving manner. With easy maintenance metal construction, the Seminole has the lowest acquisition cost in its class.”
Piper is the manufacturer of three classes of aircraft including its “Training class,” “Twin Class,” and its upper echelon “M-Class.”
The Seminole falls into both the training and Twin Class categories.
Despite its success with the Seminole in China, the global aircraft manufacturer still awaits its Validated Type Certificate (VTC) for its M-Class planes. The VTC, according to Carlon, is the missing link in allowing Chinese buyers to register M-Class aircraft in China.
“We have established dealer representation and have three dealers in China,” Carlon said. “They have customers waiting to buy these airplanes.”
Carlon said the Seminole’s award was a milestone, and a big step in the right direction for Piper’s presence in China.
Carlon said, until approximately eight years ago, buzz around aviation was extremely minimal in the country.
“Now that the country is developing awards like this, that tells us that the Chinese government is allowing more products to flow into the market and is recognizing that some products are superior,” Carlon said.
In addition to aviation awards, a rise in aviation events and up and coming aviation publications like U-Jet, are also signs that interest in aviation is on a steady climb in China, and Piper is positioning itself to be a major player in Chinese market.
