Outfitter’s Challenge: Keeping Up with Demand

It’s one of those problems providers might like to see but that can be exasperating for their customers–more demand than capacity. The completion and refurbishment industry in the U.S. is struggling to keep up with demand as sales of new and used business aircraft continue to grow, and now Canadian shops are facing the same challenge. For example, Innotech-Execaire of Montreal recently moved to a three-shift operation that includes weekends, and according to v-p and general manager Rob Brooks, the company is also assessing the merits of building additional facilities at its Montreal headquarters. The reason for the stepped-up operations, said Brooks, is the surging sales of larger Bombardier business jets. Innotech has an agreement with Montreal-based Bombardier to do interiors for the Global XRS and Global 5000 and anticipates additional work as Bombardier’s Challenger 300 production reaches capacity. The goal, said Brooks, is a 30-week cabin completion cycle for the Global series.