by Dave Weiman
Dale Klapmeier
HARTFORD, CONN. – In an announcement made September 19, 2011 in Duluth, Minn., Cirrus Aircraft cofounder, Dale Klapmeier, was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing Brent Wouters, who replaced Klapmeier’s brother, Alan Klapmeier. Wouters served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2002 to 2008, then President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), before eventually being named CEO. No reason for Wouters departure has been given.
At a press conference on September 22, 2011 at the AOPA Summit in Hartford, Connecticut, Dale Klapmeier walked up to the podium and vowed to bring back the “goals” the company he and his brother, Alan, founded in a T-hangar in Baraboo, Wis., but said that his brother would not be rejoining him.
“The company has to go back to our roots,” said Klapmeier. “We need to go back to our goal of getting more people into aviation. We are in the business of making flying safe, productive, exciting and a lot of fun!”
Klapmeier went on to explain why more people do not get into aviation, declaring that it is not the cost, but rather the perception over safety. He noted the midair collision Alan had in 1985 that resulted in equipping all Cirrus aircraft with a ballistic parachute system.
“Alan and I started this business because we love airplanes and because we want to get more people in aviation—we wanted it to be an enormous club. We did this to change the world, have fun, and make a little money.”
But it takes more than a little money to run an aircraft manufacturing company, noted Klapmeier. He said that he is excited that Cirrus was purchased by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA), through a merger with Cirrus in June 2011. Cirrus is now 100 percent owned by the Chinese.
“The Chinese see the growth potential for General Aviation in China,” said Klapmeier. “The disposable income is there. The bottom 3,000 feet of airspace is now open, and every airport will be GPS based. India also has potential.
“I am very impressed with this company; they want to see the industry grow. They want to see aviation in every corner of the world. There’s a huge part of the world we don’t sell airplanes to because they don’t have access to 100LL.” Klapmeier commented briefly on the need for diesel and alternative fuels.
While CAIGA has indicated that it wants to see the entire industry grow, they could suspend further development of the Vision SF50 jet if company officials do not feel it is profitable. They are in the midst of examining all of the financials before they make a decision about the jet’s future. Klapmeier noted that there are currently 420 orders for the personal jet.
Looking beyond the jet and current line of SR20s and 22s, Klapmeier envisions an aircraft between the SR22 and the Vision SF50 jet, and something beyond the jet.
When asked about Cirrus’ Light Sport Aircraft, Klapmeier said that they hope to get back into the LSA market, and briefly commented on the success of Cessna’s Skycatcher. “It all depends on the new owners,” said Klapmeier, whether or not Cirrus will get back into the LSA market.
When asked that if returning to the company’s original goals meant that Alan would be coming back to Cirrus, Klapmeier said, “There are no plans to bring Alan back to Cirrus. He has his own program going,” referring to the cabin-class turboprop “Kestrel.”
The press conference began with the introduction of the family that purchased the 5000th Cirrus aircraft.
Joe and Connie Whisenhunt of Little Rock, Arkansas, were in Hartford, Conn., attending the AOPA Summit for a special presentation of their new Cirrus Perspective SR22T, N5000J. This purchase is the fifth Cirrus aircraft they have owned. Whisenhunt, a real estate investor who began flying in 2009, also has an early production position for the Cirrus Vision SF50.
“When we started, we dreamed of building airplanes that made people’s lives easier and better,” said Klapmeier. “Five thousand aircraft later, we’re proud of this achievement and we will continue to improve upon that dream.”
