Daher Group has completed its acquisition of the Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft Company and is now able to deploy its full range of activities across North America, including aircraft manufacturing, the production of systems and equipment and the supply of logistics and services.

Daher now joins those aircraft manufacturers that have final assembly lines on multiple continents. It builds the family of TBM very fast turboprop aircraft at its Tarbes, France facility, while the Quest Aircraft Company assembles the Kodiak utility airplane at Sandpoint in the US.

“Our acquisition is perfectly aligned with Daher's strategy to intensify its business footprint in America,” says CEO Didier Kayat. “In addition to adding the Kodiak to our aircraft portfolio, we have now gained a major competitive advantage for all of Daher's aerospace business lines in North America.

”By expanding its product line to include both the Kodiak and TBM, Daher becomes the seventh-ranked general aviation aircraft manufacturer worldwide and strengthens its position for high-end single engine turboprops. The TBM is the fastest single engine turboprop with more than 950 delivered to owners and operators around the globe. The Kodiak is an all-terrain multi-mission aircraft with more than 270 in use worldwide.”

“The integration of Kodiak into Daher's aircraft family provides us with excellent commercial, industrial and geographical synergies,” explains Daher airplane business unit senior vice president Nicolas Chabbert. “In addition to its production capacity, the Sandpoint, Idaho facility becomes part of our direct sales and maintenance networks, enabling Daher to maintain its competitive edge in the turboprop aircraft sector.”

The company has also appointed two new sales agents for its Kodiak line: Turkey-based Altair Business Aviation and Forth Corporation in Thailand. This expansion will supplement the Kodiak's existing representation throughout southeast Asia.

“We have witnessed a steadily growing interest in Asia for the Kodiak, and we're pleased to welcome two new partners to the Kodiak family to support that interest,” says Kodiak sales director for Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa Paul Branham. “We have full confidence in their ability to cement our reputation for best-in-class service and support across the multiple markets that the Kodiak attracts.”

Altair Business Aviation will be representing the Kodiak throughout Turkey. MD Tuncel Gunenc adds: “The Kodiak is a robust, versatile aircraft, and easily the safest in its utility class with its modern FAA certification. We are thrilled to be introducing it to our market and look forward to working side-by-side with Daher.”

Forth Corporation has based its operations and maintenance service center in Bangkok, Thailand. Its territory includes Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Singapore. Head of aviation maintenance and technical department Jom Khamlaksana adds: “We are honoured to become a part of the team representing the Kodiak throughout our territory in southeast Asia. I firmly believe we'll find it very warmly received and a very successful product across multiple applications here.”