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Pacific Aerospace goes into liquidation
23rd February 2021 9:08 Europe/London
The dream of expansion for New Zealand aircraft maker Pacific Aerospace after forming a joint venture with China’s Beijing Automotive four years ago is over. The Hamilton-based company has gone into interim liquidation.
It’s not clear yet what the interim liquidation means for staff and the company’s future. In the meantime, the NZ CAA has said Pacific Aerospace aircraft can continue to fly “despite the company’s financial distress”. Howver, the
CAA has suspended the company’s certifications which allow it to design, manufacture and maintain aircraft.
Pacific Aerospace’s main aircraft is the P-750 XSTOL, a multi-purpose aircraft that can take off and land on short and rough airstrips. It’s used by parachute operators and also for humanitarian flights, medevac, and search and rescue. One is in operation in the UK at Hinton-in-the Hedges.
“It’s definitely a people-magnet, there have been people here all weekend.” The machine, which weighs about seven tonnes without a load, is used for heavy lifting work all around the country and was also quick, cruising at 150knots (around 180kmh), he said. “We had the call that they were leaving Whangamomona now, and by the time I turned round to have a look, they were coming over the hills,” he said. The helicopter is due to leave Stratford Aerodrome on Monday morning, but Furmage said he was hopeful it would be back to take part in the club’s open day on Saturday.