Features
Daher to acquire Quest Aircraft
June 18, 2019 By Wings Staff
The Kodiak 100 is a 10-seat, unpressurized, entry-level aircraft in the single-engine turboprop category. (Photo: Daher/LinkedIn) Daher, producer of the TBM family of turboprop aircraft, moved to acquire Quest Aircraft Company, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, which builds the Kodiak 100. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2019.
With this acquisition, Daher states it strengthens two of its strategic pillars by, first, reinforcing its aircraft manufacturing business and consolidating the company’s position in the turboprop segment by widening the product family; and second, by achieving a major milestone in the growth of its North American industrial and services operations.
“The Quest Aircraft Company’s acquisition represents an additional step in our development in the United States and an overall strengthening of our aircraft manufacturing business,” said Didier Kayat, CEO, Daher. “In addition to making Daher the world’s seventh largest aircraft manufacturer in business aviation, it provides us with our first industrial site in the United States, thereby reinforcing Daher’s position as a Tier-1 aerospace equipment and systems manufacturer, as well as a logistics and services provider.”
The Kodiak 100 is a 10-seat, unpressurized, entry-level aircraft in the single-engine turboprop category. Originally created for humanitarian missions in developing countries, Daher describes the Kodiak 100 as an agile and robust aircraft, capable of operating on uneven and ultra-short runways, while offering optimal safety.
Certified in 67 countries, the Kodiak 100 is used worldwide by air-taxi, recreational and leisure operators, along with businesses, pilot-owners and humanitarian organizations. There are more than 270 Kodiak aircraft in operation.
Through this acquisition, Daher is enhancing its presence in the general and business aviation segment by offering a wider multi-product range, based on its existing TBM 910 and TBM 940 turboprop aircraft.
“As a powerful and maneuverable aircraft – used particularly for humanitarian missions to provide aid to isolated communities – the Kodiak 100 perfectly complements our TBM product range and is fully in line with Daher’s long-term vision as a company committed to the future of aviation,” said Patrick Daher, chairman, Daher.
