Page 66 - World Airnews Magazine April 2021

NEWS

CALDECOTT TO RETIRE

Malibu airframe.
The piston-powered version remains in the line as the M350,
Piper Aircraft’s CEO, Simon Caldecott, is to retire after a while the evergreen Archer was recently reconfigured for the
decade at the helm of the company. training role as the Pilot 100i. Caldecott’s successor has yet to be
He is due to leave this month , leaving behind a company that named.
has staked out firm footing in the trainer markets as well as with “It has been an honour and privilege leading Piper Aircraft
the successful M-class line of turboprops based on the pressurised through a transformative journey, from a legacy aircraft
manufacturer to the first general aviation manufacturer to
certify an autoland equipped general aviation aircraft,” Caldecott
said.
“We strengthened the leadership team with new talent,
made major facility improvements to make a safer workplace
and strengthened relations with the community as well as
with major suppliers. I am enormously proud of the dedicated
team at Piper and our global independent Dealership network.
With everything in place, the company’s future prospects
are extremely encouraging and I look forward to a smooth
transition.”
Piper is among three manufacturers employing Garmin’s
autoland technology, which Piper calls HALO, and fits to the
M600SLS. Sales grew through 2019, when Piper sold 290 aircraft,
including a whopping 182 Archers; in 2011, the company sold
just 17 of the Warrior and Archer models combined. Even during
the pandemic-influenced 2020, Piper did better than it did in
2018, with 244 aircraft sold, including 149 Archers (its volume
leader) and 36 M600 turboprops. The company also launched an
apprenticeship program to feed its production facilities.
“Piper Aircraft has been working with the company’s board
of directors for several months on a succession plan and will be
announcing the new leadership structure soon,” the company
said. Q

CARGO

ENHANCE DIGITAL

COLLABORATION

the absence of a tool for companies to In particular this will help the efficient
exchange the information needed to roll out of advance cargo information
IATA has launched the Enhanced Partner make these business links, the process of (ACI) requirements, including preloading
Identification and Connectivity (EPIC) digitisation is essentially manual, slow and advance cargo information (PLACI)
unduly complex.
platform to support the digitisation of the “EPIC is a simple idea. It makes the programmes.
global air cargo supply chain. information needed to do business Implementation notes:
EPIC simplifies the complex process of across a digitised air cargo supply chain • When using EPIC, individual
making digital connections across the air easily accessible. And in doing so, it will companies retain full control of
cargo value chain including enabling the accelerate efficiency gains for air cargo. their data with the flexibility to
efficient exchange of critical information The timing of this initiative is important. manage how they connect with
such as messaging capabilities and COVID-19 has led to exponential growth of respective business partners.
identities. e-commerce and shippers are demanding • EPIC is open for use by airlines
As the air cargo industry continues to quality services that only a digitised supply (IATA members and non-members),
digitalise, airlines, freight forwarders, chain can provide,” said Nick Careen, IATA freight forwarders and any third
ground handlers and customs authorities senior vice president, airport, passenger, party, intermediary or IT provider in
need to be able to securely work cargo, security. the air cargo business.
together digitally. This is a considerable In addition to supporting business-to- EPIC has already attracted the participa-
challenge as today more than 40,000 business processes, the participation tion of 32 airlines, 900 freight forwarder
freight forwarders exchange messages of customs organisations in EPIC also branches, 10 governments/customs
with more than 450 airlines, and 23 third supports digital customs clearance authorities, 5 international organizations
party messaging service providers. In processes. and 13 third party messaging providers. Q

World Airnews | April Extra 2021
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