News
Dornier will do final assembly

Oct. 27, 2009 Orlando, Fla. – The Dornier Seaplane Co. has
decided to assemble its new composite amphibious airplane in Ontario or
Quebec, creating at least 250 jobs over five years.

The company has narrowed the list of possible locations to
North Bay or St-Jean-sur-Richelieu after eliminating Trois-Rivieres,
Que., Florida and Alabama from contention.

Winter flight operations will be based in Punta Gorda, Fla.

The
two Canadian finalists were selected based on the availability of
skilled labour, low real estate and infrastructure costs, the strong
local aviation supply chain and proximity to nearby lakes for flight
testing, the company said in a news release.

Pratt & Whitney will produce the 10-seat luxury Seastar's engines, employing up to 75 employees.

A final decision will be made in 90 days, Dornier stated.

Conrado
Dornier, the company's chairman and grandson of founder Claude Dornier,
said he was pleased to build on the family's 100-year aircraft legacy
in Canada.

"These sites are a natural market fit for our amphibious seaplane," he said.

CEO
Joe Walker said in addition to selecting a final assembly site, the
company is in detailed discussions with major suppliers. They will be
chosen over the coming year with deliveries expected to begin in 24
months.

"We are gratified by the depth and breadth of market interest in the Dornier Seastar," he said.

Dornier
said it has received inquiries from more than 132 countries and is
working to develop firm orders from in excess of 25 letters of intent
for the US$6-million aircraft.

The company claims the Seastar will be the world's first all-composite seaplane.

Since its founding in the early 1900s, Dornier has manufactured more than 10,000 aircraft, including some 1,000 seaplanes.

(CP)