A sad but consistent ending
"It's a sad but neat end to this great adventure," Yves Delatte, CEO of parent company Sonaca Group, told the Belgian business daily L'Echo. The decision to wind up Sonaca Aircraft came after years of economic challenges. The company had already recorded a loss of around 900,000 euros in 2023. According to Delatte, a return to profitability was no longer realistic.
Despite the difficult situation, the company endeavoured to avoid social hardship. Redundancies were avoided as the remaining employees were integrated into other areas of the Sonaca Group. This measure emphasises the social responsibility that the company has assumed during the crisis.
From foundation to completion: the chronology of an ambitious project
The story of Sonaca Aircraft began in 2015, when the manufacturer was founded with the support of the Walloon regional government. The aim was to develop an innovative, reliable and modern training aircraft. Production of the Sonaca 200a single-engine two-seater with a robust design and modern technology. Further development followed quickly: in 2019, the variant Sonaca 201 with glass cockpit, which offered even more modern avionics.
The end of production
Despite initial optimism, the company was already experiencing economic difficulties before the pandemic. In May 2022, Sonaca Aircraft ceased production after only 57 aircraft had been manufactured. Since then, the company has focussed exclusively on customer service for the delivered aircraft. The final step towards liquidation followed in November 2024.
The challenges of the industry: Why Sonaca failed
The closure of Sonaca Aircraft highlights the challenges faced by small manufacturers in general aviation:
- Market volatilityFlight schools, which were the main customers for the Sonaca 200 and 201, were faced with drastic cutbacks during the pandemic. There was less demand for new aircraft as many schools reduced their capacities.
- Small quantities and high costsBuilding up profitable series production is an immense challenge for small aircraft. The limited orders were not sufficient to cover the high development costs.
- Competitive pressureThe market for training aircraft is highly competitive. Established models such as the Cessna 172 or the Diamond DA40 offered strong competition and made market penetration more difficult.
- Capital requirementsInnovations such as the glass cockpit of the Sonaca 201 require high levels of investment. For smaller manufacturers like Sonaca Aircraft, it is often difficult to secure the necessary financial resources in the long term.
A look back - and forwards
With the closure of Sonaca Aircraft, European aviation is losing an ambitious player. However, the Sonaca 200 and 201 will continue to fly and bear witness to the company's engineering expertise. Flying schools and private pilots who use these models can continue to rely on the support of the parent company Sonaca Group.
Source references:
Aerotelegraph
