Quest ramps up Kodiak production

Quest Aircraft Co. reports that it is ramping up production on its Kodiak, a 10-place turboprop utility airplane that has proven popular with missionary organizations, skydiving operations, and private owners.

Fueling the increased production is a recapitalization completed earlier this year, supplemented with funding from investors, officials said, noting this “enabled the company to expand and invest in a few key areas, including production increases at its Sandpoint (Idaho) facility.”

“Quest’s long-term corporate strategy is focused on global growth and expansion,” officials said in a prepared statement. “The recent financing transaction allows for a more aggressive pursuit of this strategy. Quest is positioning itself to take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging as the global aviation market continues to improve. The development of a more expansive domestic and international sales network, coupled with additional Authorized Service Center operations, will enable Quest to grow along with increased market demand.”

The company’s executive leadership is also transitioning. CEO Paul Schaller is leaving his position and will now serve as a consultant to the company. Ron Wright, director of operations, will continue to oversee the production facility in Sandpoint, while several new positions have been created. Steve Zinda has been named director, sales and marketing, and Paul Duff is director, procurement. Zinda and Duff are based in Wichita, where the company plans to locate several key management positions, officials said.

Quest began customer deliveries of the Kodiak in late 2007, and it has since been deployed in more than 10 countries around the world in a variety of applications. Kodiaks are in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, skydiving operations, U.S. and international governments, and humanitarian organizations. This past summer, Quest delivered nine float-equipped Kodiaks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and most recently to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engine, the Kodiak has the ability to land and take off from unimproved surfaces and is capable of working off floats without structural upgrades. The KODIAK can take off in under 1,000 feet at full gross takeoff weight of 7,255 lbs and climb at over 1,300 feet per minute. A 3-panel Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite including Synthetic Vision Technology is standard equipment on the Kodiak.

For more information: QuestAircraft.com