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Nextant Aerospace Appoints National Sales Team

Dépèche transmise le 3 mai 2011 par Business Wire

Nextant Aerospace Appoints National Sales Team

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nextant Aerospace, a pioneer in the field of aircraft remanufacturing, announced the appointment of three business aviation veterans to oversee its field sales effort in the United States. Mark Whitman will have responsibility for the Southern U.S., Tom Chapman will oversee the Northeast and John Frevola will have responsibility for the Western U.S.

“Tom, John and Mark each have over 25 years experience in business aviation. Their proven track records and breadth of experience will be a valuable asset moving forward.”

“This announcement is a significant milestone for Nextant as we continue to ramp up our retail sales effort,” stated Jay Heublein, vice president of sales and marketing. “Tom, John and Mark each have over 25 years experience in business aviation. Their proven track records and breadth of experience will be a valuable asset moving forward.”

Mr. Whitman began his aviation career in the mid 1970s as an A-6 pilot with the United States Marine Corps. He then transitioned to the civilian world as a sales director for SimuFlite Training International. He has held several senior aviation sales roles over the last two decades and most recently managed the Midwest sales effort for fractional operator Avantair. Mr. Chapman joins Nextant Aerospace from XOJET where he most recently served as a senior sales director. He has held senior sales roles with multiple OEM’s and he began his aviation career in the 1980s with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Mr. Frevola also began his aviation career in the military as a pilot with the U.S. Navy. He entered the civilian market as a sales director with Cessna Aircraft Company and most recently served as vice president and general manager for Flightcraft Inc.

“It’s not often that you have the opportunity as a sales professional to be part of a team that is on the verge of taking a truly revolutionary product to market,” said Mr. Heublein. “Tom, Mark and John are uniquely qualified to represent the 400XT and I’m excited to welcome them to the company.” In addition to the new sales team members, Nextant expects to add 130 employees over the next 12 months to support production of the 400XT.

Nextant is the first company to introduce the concept of remanufacturing to the business jet market. This unique process applies an environmentally sound approach to aircraft manufacturing which allows the company to deliver an end product that exhibits significantly evolved technology, improved reliability, and a life expectancy that meets or exceeds other competitive products. The remanufacturing process involves a comprehensive protocol that takes over 6,000 man-hours to complete. The process begins with a thorough inspection of the airframe to ensure that it is free from corrosion and any detrimental wear and tear. In subsequent phases, all life limited components are taken to zero-time status either by replacement or complete overhaul which effectively makes the 400XT a new plane in all material aspects. The 400XT cockpit is updated to include the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21^TM avionics system and the performance of the aircraft is significantly enhanced by the Williams FJ44-3AP engine. Several aerodynamic enhancements are made to the airframe including a new pylon and cowling design. The resulting aircraft has a range of 2005nm (4 passenger, NBAA IFR reserves) and a 35% improvement in fuel efficiency. All work is performed at Nextant’s factory in Cleveland, Ohio. Remanufacturing differs significantly from other “modification” programs in that it creates a truly standardized product. The standardization leads to an inherently safer product in that it will allow flight crews to train to a common training curriculum. The 400XT is sold with a complete tip-to-tail warranty and Nextant has established a national service network to support the plane.

Nextant expects to certify the 400XT in the second quarter of 2011 and plans to deliver 11 aircraft this year with the first delivery slated to take place in July. The company will have the first production aircraft on display at EBACE in May and is expected to take the new aircraft on a national tour of the U.S. this summer.

For additional information, please visit www.nextantaerospace.com.

About Nextant Aerospace

Nextant Aerospace was founded in 2007 for the primary purpose of developing an aircraft modernization program. The company is credited with being the first to introduce the concept of aircraft remanufacturing to the business jet market.

The Nextant 400XT is a remanufactured Beechjet 400A/XP equipped with the Williams FJ44-3AP engines and Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite. The new aircraft also benefits from significant aerodynamic enhancements including newly designed nacelles, pylons and an improved engine mounting configuration. The 400XT is delivered as a new aircraft with a 2 year tip to tail warranty. In October of 2010, Nextant announced that they had secured an order for 40 aircraft from the fractional ownership company Flight Options.

Nextant’s design and manufacturing facility is located in Cleveland, OH at the Cuyahoga County Airport (KCGF). For more information, please visit www.nextantaerospace.com

About Williams International

Williams International is the world leader in small turbine engines and customer support, with headquarters in Walled Lake, Michigan, and a design-to-production facility in Ogden, Utah. For more information about the company, its products, and support, please visit www.williams-int.com.

About Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by nearly 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com