VERO BEACH — Piper Aircraft Inc. is hoping to land some new customers for its single-engine business aircraft through enhanced features and financial incentives, including selling 2012 models purchased by the end of the year at 2011 prices.
Piper officials today are unveiled the new features being added to its Meridian, Mirage and Matrix aircraft at the National Business Aviation Association's annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas.
The improvements are in line with statements Piper officials have made in the past regarding their desire to be more in line with the automobile industry when in comes to releasing new versions of their aircraft. Piper officials have said they want to make changes that will better differentiate the new aircraft from older versions and thereby give customers more incentive to buy the latest models.
In order to ease pilot comfort and access, Piper has added flat, fold-down aft-facing seats, a fold-down co-pilot seat and a cockpit assist handle to make it easier for the pilot to maneuver inside the cockpit.
Piper spokeswoman Jackie Carlon said the enhancements were made after conversations with dealers and customers on how the planes could be improved.
The cockpit has been sculpted to provide more elbow and hip room. Newly redesigned side panels have larger map pockets designed to offer more space to hold the latest electronic devices, including the increasingly popular pilot iPads.
The co-pilot seat when folded flat offers a work surface and cup holders for the pilot. Cockpit seats also have been restyled for a more modern appearance. The aft-facing seats also have been redesigned with large and reshaped bottom cushions and the back cushions have been bulked up for firmer lumbar support.
In addition to offering 2011 prices on the 2012 models through the end of this year, Piper Executive Vice President Randy Groom noted that all three of Piper's M-Class airplanes are eligible for bonus depreciation when firm orders and deposits are placed before Dec. 31.
The standard equipped price for a Meridian is $2,071,500; for the Mirage, $997,500, and for the Matrix, $869,000.
Some of the other new features include; brighter LED lighting both outside and inside the plane, Bose A20 headsets with more power and better noise-cancelling capabilities without the need for batteries.
The Meridian now has two 110-volt outlets for onboard recharging and for mobile devices, while the Mirage and Matrix have one additional outlet. All are configured to support numerous international plug configurations. Piper has been making a push to add new dealers around the U.S. and the world, with 12 new dealers or agents added by the end of June.
Piper has also revamped its internal air distribution for the cockpit and cabin.
"It makes a big difference when it comes to passenger comfort," said Carlon.
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