Wednesday, December 16, 2009...As winter blankets Sandpoint the landscape shines under a low winter sun. On clear days the skies are a deep pristine blue that sparkles with crystals of blowing snow. Living out here means that watching ice form on Lake Pend Oreille and the snow base build on Schweitzer Mountain isn't a harbinger of hard times, it's an annual ritual. And frankly, it offers a much needed pause for reflection.
     For us, as for so many of you around the world, 2009 has been a year of challenges. The positive side of these past several months of global economic uncertainty is that Quest is emerging a stronger company for having a better view of our limits and the fragility of this business. We are now better prepared to effectively plan for the worst of times, as well as the best, and we have learned to grow ourselves – and our relationships – during both. The reality here in Sandpoint is that answering the challenge of hard times has always been our calling. It is, in fact, the impetus for the KODIAK.
     Through it all we’ve been blessed by another good year of business. Not only were we awarded our Production Certificate from the FAA, but we’ve also been able to ramp up our delivery rate to three aircraft per month. These milestones were simply stated objectives at this time last year, and it is extremely satisfying to have accomplished both. On top of this, the first KODIAK to be deployed for overseas mission work is now in service in Papua New Guinea with our friends at JAARS, and two more KODIAKs are being deployed with Mission Aviation Fellowship as you read these words. This year we also certified and registered the first KODIAK in Canada. So, despite the challenges, we have much to celebrate as we settle into winter.
     One of the things that warms our hearts the most in the season’s chill are the people who work here at Quest. The soul of this team – from the shop floor to the conference room – is reflected in the sense that their work is not focused on their own necessity. They walk through these doors every day to meet the necessities of others. With every goal we’ve achieved, it is the determination, hard work, and answered prayers of this crew that have made these accomplishments possible. There is no better spirit of the season and we're blessed to live it year-round.
     Now, with Christmas approaching, we would like to take a moment to thank all of you who have made this great adventure a reality. This year our wish for you is that you are similarly blessed – blessed with the presence of people you love, and the warmth of distant hearts. With KODIAKs now deployed from Western Europe to the Western Pacific, we are acutely aware of the support you all have offered us this year.
     Yes, times have been hard, and this winter may feel a little colder than most. But we are surrounded by the evidence that every winter storm leaves behind a clean sheet that's pristine and untrodden; where every path taken is freshly new. Thank you, from our hearts, for walking with us.
     From all of us here at Quest we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas with the blessings of peace, joy, hope and health in the coming year.

With deepest gratitude,
The Crew at Quest

(Quest Aircraft Company is completely owned by a Charitable Trust and all future commercial net-profits are mandated to be given to humanitarian organizations who bring joy, hope, and health to the most remote corners of the earth.)
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Sunday, August 2, 2009...While there was real concern heading into EAA AirVenture 2009 that the down economy would take some exuberance out of the show this year, we certainly didn’t see this in the Quest booth. Oshkosh offers not only a chance to get reacquainted with old friends and connected with new ones…it’s also a great place to check the pulse of the industry. And by all accounts the enthusiasm of the public and the returning confidence of business leaders was extremely encouraging. Here is what we learned this year.
     The recession is over!? Well, the enthusiasm of Oshkosh notwithstanding, gleeful observations by many that the recession is over and GA and business jets are “back” is simply wishful thinking by PR departments. Some companies may have restarted production too early. But while backlog has shrunk (massively in some product categories) there are pockets of strength. Ever eager to see bad news behind us it is easy to assume the “good old days” are right around the corner. Here’s our perspective…aviation should take the current situation as an opportunity to retool for a realistic and gradual return to about 80% of 2007 by 2012. Implementing new innovations to reduce cost and improve manufacturability will be the key to moving forward. That said…
     The demise of the industry was greatly exaggerated.  Many have been in a gloom and doom state about the aircraft business with substantial evidence of sectors showing a downward trend. But hold on, there are a few areas where business is strong (turboprops being one…great news for Quest) so don’t pull your BRS just yet. A 20-year product cycle is impacted by a 3 year recession, but we can ride through quite a bit of turbulence. The real questions are: what will the new aviation market look like in 2011? Which systems and platforms won’t make it and which will? Where should you invest – if you have the cash? It’s clear that the market will become increasingly global and certification organizations like EASA need to take aggressive action to be ready.
     Humanitarian / Mission Aviation is alive and well.  The FLY4LIFE focus for AirVenture was a great event and well represented by many organizations. Humanity’s saving grace lies in our generosity towards others and the compassion and calling that many feel to extend a helping hand. This belief was evident and impressive as FLY4LIFE represented the legacy of the past 60 years of this work manifest through aviation. Many current efforts were front and center in AeroShell Square. EAA did a fantastic job of supporting those who are part of this focus area and many people who had no experience with humanitarian aviation came away from Oshkosh both informed and touched.
     Quest was well represented. The focus on humanitarian and mission work provided a platform for 3 mission organizations to display their KODIAKs. We had 2 customer planes in the booth (one of which will be used for medical missions in Mexico). The Department of Interior also brought the first of 9 KODIAKs they have on order. This year we sponsored an art exhibit at the EAA Museum and once again Quest was on all the kiosks around the grounds. The goal for our first 4 years at EAA has been to create awareness in a crowded market space through brand recognition and commercial acceptance. There are many signs that this awareness has developed substantially in the US but we still have a lot of room to grow. It was exciting to meet with so many customers who are enthusiastic about flying their KODIAKs. And it was encouraging to see that the purposes for which they bought these aircraft are now being realized. Ultimately, our customers are our best spokespeople so we are very excited to hear their stories. This is only the start of our journey – our adventure!
     A great time was had by all. Well, at least by Quest and those we talked to! In traditional EAA fashion, Oshkosh offered plenty of opportunity for relationship building and the annual re-acquaintance that makes an event like this such a staple in the industry. There is a growing sense of confidence that the industry is on a path to regain lost ground. In the end it was clear that a spirit of innovation is still alive and well. This will ultimately be a key piece of the puzzle in rebuilding a great industry that continues to solve real problems and offer real benefits.
     Thank you for joining us for the ride.

Blessings,
Paul Schaller
President and CEO
Quest Aircraft Company

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Friday, December 12, 2008…This Holiday Season, you may not need to fly five hours into the jungle with three thousand pounds of cargo, or land near gross weight in a thousand foot clearing, or do circuits to the dropzone with 15 new jumpers every 20 minutes. You may not need to carry nine people to the away game, or land five of your friends plus five day’s gear at the best spot for backcountry skiing this side of the Cascades.
     You may not need to…but in a KODIAK you could.
     It's been a long year of growth at Quest and as we work to double our rate of production we would like to pause and express our gratitude to all who have pulled together and kept us moving forward. To those who buck rivets and balance ailerons, to those who crimp wires, lay hydraulic lines, or set lock nuts. To the engineers who calculate the load on every bolt, to managers in the back offices, and the voice at the front desk. Every day these folks walk into 84,000 square feet of floor space nestled in spot best described in cowboy songs and transform it into a purring production line. But what they’ve accomplished is much more important.
     We've learned this year that the team that makes Quest tick is as diverse in duty as they are in character...and how fitting that is for the product we produce. With customer aircraft now on wheels, on floats, and in the air -- doing so many different jobs -- our mission becomes that much more clear. What we've done is still just a start. It's a broad beginning that shows but a few of the vast applications of our KODIAK. And so at year-end we find ourselves full of pride for what's accomplished and full of hope for the New Year.
     Our journey has always been to make yours easier, because we believe the KODIAK is more than an airplane. Yes, this is a factory. And, yes, we build aircraft. But what we assemble is more than sum of its parts. KODIAK is the bridge between an idea and a destination. As our goal of sending aircraft to humanitarian missions finds its beginning we are excited to watch this aircraft bridge even broader chasms. This is a link between rich and poor, between sickness and health, and between excess and suffering. We may have built production lines, fixtures and jigs, and our days may be full of sheet metal and machined aluminum but as each aircraft moves off the line, we're starting to see that these are the same things hope is made of. And this gift will keep giving for generations to come. For each KODIAK rolling out these doors it’s not the end of the journey…it’s just the beginning.
     And so to all you who have supported us once or stand with us today…your investment of time, or labor, or money has made possible what we offer in return. In the days to come KODIAK will carry 2000 pounds of parts over 1000 nautical miles to save a business, or take a family to a forgotten lake that will leave them with memories for a lifetime. It will carry a team of professional parachute jumpers to inspire a generation, or carry a small child on her first trip to see grandma.
     One day soon KODIAK will rush a dying child safely over the mountains, through darkness and storm, to a hospital an entire culture away. KODIAK means that eight hundred feet of open ground can take you almost anywhere. That's something we couldn't have done without you.
     Each one of you have been the answer to our prayers…and through the KODIAK, we hope to bring that answer to so many more.

With deepest gratitude,
The Team at Quest

(Quest Aircraft Company is completely owned by a Charitable Trust and all future commercial net-profits are mandated to be given to humanitarian organizations who bring joy, hope, and health to the most remote corners of the earth.)
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Thursday, September 4, 2008...These are the days when those extra twilight hours lead into the last few soft summer nights. You can put your feet up, close your eyes, and bathe in the scent of a barbecue on the cool evening air.
     That sounds awfully nice.
     Of course, here at Quest, we have a production line in full ramp up and new projects filling the horizon. It seems that, these days, our satisfaction comes less in pondering yesterday’s accomplishments, and more often in orchestrating tomorrow’s. As a matter of fact, if the local radio station hadn’t dropped by (stay tuned for more on their visit) and asked us to take a look back down the path we’ve traveled we probably wouldn’t have thought to look over our shoulders. Here’s to the guys at KPND radio. Thanks for stopping by. We’re glad you did.
    In retrospect it’s clear that, for Quest, the KODIAK’s journey has opened more paths than we could have foreseen and delivered in more ways than we could have imagined. Back in June we delivered on our promise to offer the Rhine Army’s Parachute Association (RAPA) a solution that met their desire to convert a KODIAK for jump operations. In doing so, a new and valuable product was born. Our KODIAK parachute option now offers a first-of-its-kind, FAA-certified, straight-from-the-factory jump aircraft. Interest in, and orders for, that product have followed. It’s a reminder that, so often, meeting a challenge for others leads us to our own reward.
    Then, at Oshkosh in July, you all had the opportunity to experience three KODIAKs, including one with our new Timberline interior and another one on floats. This was the first year we saw KODIAKs on display that weren’t in our booth. That definitely put a smile on our faces.
     The Timberline interior has turned out beautifully (stay tuned for images to come). We are extremely pleased to offer this level of refinement inside our rugged backcountry performer.
     And, having designed KODIAK for floats from the very beginning, we all thoroughly enjoyed seeing what a natural this plane is on the water. Now even more of the world lies within reach.


    Seeing customer aircraft on display reminds us that as hard as we work, our effort is being matched stride for stride by those companies who see the advantage of supporting the KODIAK. Your work is our blessing, and we are very very grateful.
     With even a brief look back, it’s staggering to recognize the support our mission has attracted and the diversity of purpose it continually extends. Now, as summer draws to a close and the weather starts to turn toward fall, there’s no more time to reminisce. As far as we’ve come there is a clear sense that this adventure is just beginning.
     Thank you to our customersfor your interest, our team for your hard work, and our backers for your faith. We hope you’ve enjoyed your summer as much as we’ve enjoyed ours.
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Thursday, December 20, 2007...It's that time of year again. The snow is falling steadily and up on Schweitzer mountain the ski season is off to a great start.
     These days, with evenings in front a warm fire, our thoughts turn to so many of you who have joined in this amazing adventure. 2007 has been a year of celebration, with the granting of Type Certificate and a growing number of KODIAKs in flight. Through it all you have been so very generous with your skills and insights. Your prayers and support have been a great source of strength. We would like to take a moment to thank the literally thousands of individuals who have made this project your own...who have pulled together and kept us moving forward.
     We are extremely grateful to the Alaska Air Group for their matching program that has already matched $500,000 of your gifts in memory of Alaska Airline’s chairman emeritus and Quest’s founding chairman Bruce Kennedy. We are now working to supply a second KODIAK to leverage the efforts of Asas de Socorro as they bring humanitarian aid to the vast Brazilian Amazon.
     We would also like to thank so many of you who have seen the KODIAK as a mission critical tool and put down deposits. 2008 looks to be another banner year as production continues to ramp up and we anticipate our first series of customer deliveries.
     Of course our thoughts also turn to so many in this world who are isolated by geography, natural disasters, or politics...sometimes all three. We are reminded again of the reason we are in this business and are so often encouraged by Longfellow’s words in the old Christmas carol:

     God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
     The wrong shall fail,
     The right prevail,
     With peace on earth, good-will towards men!

And so we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the blessings of joy, hope, and health in the coming year,
The Team at Quest
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Thursday, October 18, 2007...Our open house this week provided an amazing opportunity to honor the legacy of our founding chairman Bruce Kennedy…to celebrate his life and his vision for a modern backcountry airplane that could carry humanitarian supplies and missionaries to remote areas around the world.
     Joyce Godwin (Quest Board Chairman) introduced Bruce’s wife Karleen and their children Kevin and Karin to the over 300 people who came to Sandpoint to be a part of this celebration.
     One of the great highlights today happened as Bill Ayer (Alaska Air Group’s Chairman and CEO) took the podium to honor Bruce’s tenure as former Chief Executive of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Bruce led Alaska Air Group’s expansion as an international carrier before stepping down in 1991 to pursue humanitarian interests. As a tribute to this humanitarian vision Alaska Air Group committed to matching contributions to the Bruce Kennedy Memorial Fund up to a total of $500,000. As a result of this remarkable commitment Ayer presented the Kennedy family with a giant check for $435,001 made out to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).
     Ayer explained, “We are grateful for the role Bruce played in our lives and in the lives of those less fortunate. I can think of no more fitting way to honor his life and legacy than to join with our employees to help in the effort by funding a Quest aircraft for such a deserving organization.”

     Ayer announced that together Alaska Air Group and the Kennedy family have designated Asas de Socorro (Wings of Mercy) as the recipient of the memorial fund contributions. Asas de Socorro is a Brazilian aviation organization founded by MAF (US) in 1978. It is a registered and highly regarded Brazilian charitable entity specializing in aviation to provide care to isolated communities in Brazil’s vast interior. Dave Fyock (MAF Vice President of Resources) accepted the funds on behalf of Asas saying, “Asas de Socorro is extraordinarily grateful for this gift, which will enable MAF’s Brazilian affiliate to carry on the work of transporting missionaries and medical personnel as well as medicines and other supplies to those in desperate need in very remote locations.”
     Wilson Kannenberg (Asas de Socorro Operations Manager) was also on hand to thank Alaska Airlines and the Kennedy family for the immeasurable good that the KODIAK will enable in the jungles of Brazil.

     After other brief speeches Karleen stood and moved to the podium. Amid all the praise Karleen spoke of and for Bruce…reminding us of what he would be saying. Now with Type Certificate in hand we are at a new starting line. Now is the time to carry on and fulfill the vision.

     With those words ringing in our ears we moved outside to see just how far we’ve come.

     KODIAK s/n 001 spooled for takeoff and with yet another surprisingly short ground roll joined our prototype already in the air.

     Echoing the day’s sentiments, Paul Schaller (Quest President and CEO) concluded, “Bruce’s passion and vision were driving forces in the development of the KODIAK. All of us at Quest are grateful to have known and worked alongside Bruce. To share in honoring his legacy and commitment to mission aviation and to this company is fitting indeed.”
     Bruce, thank you for your vision, for your passion, and for your leadership. Your legacy lives on.
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Wednesday, August 1, 2007...Today the Quest Aircraft Board of Trustees unanimously elected Joyce Godwin as Chairman.
     Joyce has been with us from very early on having served on the Board since August 2002. She brings to this position an incredible wealth of experience in governance of both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
     We have benefited greatly from her insight and look forward to her guidance in the years to come.
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