EADS N.V. - Elliott Aviation, Socata’s new distributor and service center

Socata Aircraft, Inc., the US subsidiary of EADS Socata, and Elliott Aviation, announced today that Elliott Aviation will become Socata’s service center and aircraft distributor for the states of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. As an Authorized Raytheon/Beech dealer and service center, Elliott has been selling and servicing business aircraft since 1936.

Wynn Elliott, President of Elliott Aviation stated, “We have and will always provide our customers with the highest level of service. Over the last 70 years Elliott Aviation has prided itself in associating with only the finest aviation manufacturers and we are happy to add the Socata TBM 700 as an additional offering to our customers. We believe that total satisfaction is every customer’s right and both new and existing TBM owners in the area will find that our service center with its “consider it done” attitude will enhance their TBM ownership experience”.

“Socata Aircraft prides itself on its TBM 700 distribution network which is composed of some of the finest companies in aircraft sales and support in the US” said Stephane Bernard, President and CEO of Socata Aircraft. “We are extremely happy to welcome Elliott Aviation to our family. Our distribution network has been an important part of the success of the TBM 700 and we are sure that Elliott will add to this success over the coming months. Our next goal is to add another quality distribution and service partner in the Pacific North-West to complete our network”, he added.

Bruno Mandon, Vice-President of Customer Services for Socata Aircraft said "We are very pleased to welcome Elliott Aviation as a service partner for the TBM 700. They have a large and respected aviation service organization and I am sure that their attention to detail, full-service airframe capabilities and high sense of responsiveness will be well received by our TBM 700 customers in the region.”

The Socata Aircraft TBM 700 distribution network consists of New Avex Inc (CA, CO, AZ, NM, NV, UT), Cutter Aviation (TX, OK, KS, MO, AR, LA), Muncie Aviation Company (OH, IN, WI, MI, IL), Columbia Aircraft Sales (NY, ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NJ, MD, DE, PA, VA, WV, KY) and now Elliott Aviation (MN, IA, ND, SD, NE). Sales to other areas of the US are handled via Socata Aircraft’s “factory direct” sales force.

Elliott Aviation is a full-service corporate aviation center offering unique and technically innovative aviation products and services. Serving the business aviation industry nationally and internationally, they have facilities in Moline, IL, Des Moines, IA, Minneapolis, MN, and Omaha, NE. The company is a member of the Pinnacle Air Network, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and has been selling and servicing business aircraft since 1936.

EADS Socata is one of the world’s leading general aviation manufacturers with more than 6,000 aircraft flying in 65 countries, continuing a tradition initiated by Morane-Saulnier in 1911, which includes the MS 760 ParisJet, the world’s first business jet. EADS Socata manufactures the TBM700 high-speed turboprop and the TB GT range of piston-engined touring and training aircraft, as well as being an industrial partner of Airbus airliners (including the new Airbus A380), the A400M military transport, the Dassault Falcon 7X as well as Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets.

Based in France, with North American headquarters at Pembroke Pines, Florida, EADS Socata is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world.