Airplanes Africa Limited (AAL), based in Morogoro, unveiled the first-ever constructed airplane in Tanzania on Wednesday.
The Skyleader 600 (as the aircraft is known) was unveiled at the Diamond Jubilee Hall of the Tanzania International Manufacturers Expo 2023 (TIMEXPO) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The plane can carry two passengers, including the pilot. An excellent choice for business trips.
According to David Grolic, the AAL director, his company decided to set up an aircraft assembly plant in Tanzania to take advantage of the country’s excellent economic climate and desire to accept new technologies.
“We conducted thorough research to understand the requirements of business travelers who frequently undertake long-distance trips,”the AAL director noted.
“In response to the research, we decided to present an aircraft that would enable business people to travel more conveniently and attend various meetings outside of the region before returning to the city for other activities,” he added.
AAL is the country’s sole company of its sort in East Africa. It boasts the only commercial aircraft produced.
A follow-up aircraft, appropriately named the Skyleader 500, is now under development and is expected to be finished by next year. This variant is designed for agricultural use as well as other rural economic enterprises.
According to the AAL director, the Skyleader 500 is being manufactured by a team of Tanzanian and Czech workers. It goes without saying that this economic initiative has created job chances for citizens of the country.
David Grolic further mentioned that these planes are inexpensive, with the cost equivalent to that of a vehicle. They also have cheap operating expenses, use little energy, and are simple to maintain. The director stated that the initial strategy will focus on domestic sales before shifting to foreign sales.