Piper Aircraft Inc. has selected Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG), Borgomanero, Italy, to design and manufacture the landing gear system for the American manufacturer's new very light jet, the PiperJet.

Mecaer is responsible for the design, engineering, certification, system integration and production of the complete 'bolt-on' systems, comprising main and nose gears, electro-mechanical actuators, emergency release, wheels, brakes and tires. MAG facilities are located in Italy, Canada and the United States.

MAG Meets Piper's High Standards

Piper Aircraft President and CEO, Kevin Gould, said, "We selected Mecaer for the PiperJet program because it meets Piper Aircraft's high standards and it understands our critical needs. We are pleased to have Mecaer on the PiperJet team.''

MAG's General Manager of Business Development Armando Sassoli said, "This contract firmly establishes our company into the world of business aviation as a critical supplier-partner."

"Our long history and reputation of landing gear design and build for helicopter programs, as well as VLJ and other applications were very important to our PiperJet win. It's a history of success, a vision coming true," he added. "We are proud to announce this most recent reaffirmation of our strengths in an ever more competitive arena.'' Follow-on service, parts and support will be set in place concurrent with customer location and need, in close cooperation with Piper Aircraft.

"We recognize the importance of a solid landing gear design, and strive to meet the high quality demands of our customers with every gear we produce," said Mecaer Director of Engineering Giorgio Cozzolino. "Undercarriage designs must be robust yet as light as possible, to enhance the overall efficiency of the airplane."

The PiperJet is Piper Aircraft's comfortable and efficient single-engine entry in the very light jet market. Piper Aircraft and MAG jointly are making the selection announcement, timed to coincide with the Farnborough International Airshow 2010, held in the U.K. The company will provide a PiperJet program update for dealers, customers and the media at NBAA in Atlanta in October.