• Aviation

  • Quest Aircraft sold to European venture capitolist

In an attempt to prevent apparent bankruptcy, Quest Aircraft of Idaho has sold 49% of the Company to an unnamed Venture Capitolist in Europe.

The company; founded in 1999 to produce the popular "Kodiak" bushplane, has completed 30 aircraft thus far and had an estimated 200+ orders a little over a year ago. The orders were expected to backlog the production line through 2013 and keep the workforce of Quest afloat when industry all around the nation are sinking.

The Company layed off 25 emplyee's in september and recenly layed off more. One employee speaking on the condition of anominity recently said "Right Now we cant even get parts from our outside Vendors because Quest owes them so much money. I've heard rumors that we owe over $100,000 to a local vendor here in Sandpoint, and if we cant pay our local vendors then how can we pay the rest".

With economy causing Aviation companies to close their doors all around the country, it may also be the death nail in another promising company. However, with the recent influx of cash into the company it is hoped the company will survive.

7 days later
4 months later

LA Thomas wrote the previos post was totally untrue, yet since November, the company has layed off 77 additional employee's.

Production staff have had hours slashed back to 15-30 per pay period in some area's.

In what appears to be only a matter of time, Quest appears to be headed towards certain bankruptcy. Several employee's have said the company has enough money to keep the plant running for only 7 more weeks.

If Quest is going to make a turn around, it will have to happen now.

The shame of it all being the Kodiak ending up only a memory to the many fine people who gave money, time, blood, sweat and tears only to see the doors padlocked shut.

Hard to say what is going on.

Sometimes the truth is in the eye of the beholder.

It appears that LAThomas is the Director of Sales at Quest aircraft.

What LAThomas said could be damage control... Or it may be that one employee could be bitter about something and passed that on to you.

$Grizz44, would you be able to cite any sources on the internet, or is this more information from one employee speaking on the condition of anominity?

It is a hard time for all aviation companies.

Many companies are working hard to stay afloat any way they can.

I can only hope that most avaition companies make it through these hard times.

My sources are Confidential, but I have no affiliation with Quest. I am Speaking for employee's who watch their co-workers get escorted out of the building, while upper management get raises. The Board of Directors MUST step in if Quest is to be saved.

Company Parties instead of buying parts. Engineer's get brand new flat screen computer Monitors when the older Monitors worked just fine. A Human Resources Guy is so inept, they hire him a assistant who is far more qualified for his job, and she takes care of them and shows genuine care, while be goes to lunch on a brand new Chopper Motorcycle.

This list could go on, but I hope you get the message.

Quest has done a marvelous job of keeping their problems out of the news and out of earshot of the board of directors. All cuts so far have been at the bottom end of the company, yet certain middle management have recieved raises. If the company is to be saved, stop cutting the people who build the airplane!!! Cut the non essentials who tie up money and workspace.

4 days later

I am not sure that you or your "source" can be trusted. For a person that only has a friend that works for Quest you sure are bent on bashing them. You have neither posted nor replied to any other post and your absolute statement that Quest had been sold to a foreign company obviously did not happen. My guess is you use to be employed by the company and they found your skills less then desirable and let you go, you have decided to create stories in a means of retribution to the company.

As far as Quest having financial problems due to poor management decisions, well maybe, but then all you need to do is look at companies like Cessna laid off 6400 people, Piper over 300, Adams Aircraft closed, General Motors, Sprint, Pfizer all have had layoff lots of employees. Maybe you could find someone to read a newspaper to you and then you would hear that companies are having financial challenges worldwide.

It is easy for armchair quarterbacks like yourself to be self-proclaimed “know it alls” positive that you, if given the chance could save a company thrust into a worldwide poor economy. Therefore, I suggest you prove your entrepreneur prowess and see if you can make a go of it. So as not to hurt yourself I would suggest starting with a paper route, if that works you may be ready for dog walking or something with real responsibility. In the mean time, I suggest you worry about yourself instead of your slanderous dribble.