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There are dozens of small airplane manufacturers. Cessna nearly failed in the '90s, but they're doing fine today. They're still small enough to fail. Also there
by bdamm 6y ago
There are dozens of small airplane manufacturers. Cessna nearly failed in the '90s, but they're doing fine today. They're still small enough to fail. Also there are bizjet manufacturers that could fail. Aircraft producers usually sell the right to own parts and service at a discount through chapter 11 work, so it's not like the parts and service aircraft need to keep flying vanish if the parent company fails. Usually.
Companies like Pipistrel that are producing innovative aircraft are usually small enough to fail.
- dageshi 6y agoYeah I guess I wasn't really sure that would work with commercial airliners, given their probable lifespan/complexity. If the manufacturer goes out of business, who has the expertise to maintain the planes for the rest of their working life?
- bdamm 6y agoIn the United States, aviation mechanics are trained primarily to be generalists who can safely operate on any aircraft. Airline regulation may create specializations. The manufacturer needs to provide parts and certain highly specialized services (like rebuilding damaged wings, for example.) That parts and service supply is wrapped up in a "Type Certification Ownership". That type ownership is a valuable thing, because it's a guaranteed population of customers. Therefore, when aviation companies fail, the type ownership is auctioned off, and it will be bought.