A tough six months has forced the famous aviation brand to review its business.
Just days after announcing that it would be exhibiting the M600 in its mock-up form at next week’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, Piper Aircraft is preparing to lay off more than 100 workers and possibly as many as 150 at its Vero Beach engineering works in Florida, USA. This will reduce the aircraft manufacturer’s workforce by at least 15 per cent.
Piper currently employs roughly 750 people, making single- and twin-engine aircraft for a global market. However, two consecutive quarters of declines in the company’s revenue, sales, and deliveries have resulted in a review of the business.
The company’s president and CEO, Simon Caldecott, has made a formal statement that says: “Piper Aircraft has experienced steady recovery since 2009. However, we are facing challenges and economic instability in several key regions of the world, including Asia, parts of Europe, and Latin America. The team at Piper is committed to the business and as such must make the agonising decision to adjust accordingly.”
In Piper’s press release about the layoffs, the company said it was preparing a staff reduction schedule and would inform laid off employees of their status as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Caldecott is setting store by the new M600 and the publicity its appearance at Oshkosh will bring. “AirVenture Oshkosh remains the greatest general aviation venue in the world,” he said. “Piper plans to take full advantage of this gathering of aviators to exhibit our latest product, the M600, as well as offer a glimpse of the future generation of Piper Aircraft.”
