The CEO of Sandpoint airplane manufacturer Quest Aircraft Company is stepping aside, at the same time the company has said it’s boosting production of its highly regarded Kodiak.

Paul Schaller, who’s been in the CEO seat at the privately held firm since 2004, has become a consultant to the company. No reason was offered for his change of job.

Ron Wright, director of operations, is taking over as acting general manager at the Sandpoint manufacturing facility. The board will begin a search for a new CEO, said spokeswoman Julie Stone.

Orders for Kodiaks, which sell for roughly $1.6 million, have increased as the general aviation industry starts to recover. The company is gearing up to produce three aircraft per month, an increase from two per month earlier this year.

The company produced 14 Kodiaks during 2010. The single-turboprop aircraft is popular for flying into rugged terrain and for using jet fuel.

Sandpoint's Quest Aircraft Company has just delivered a Kodiak airplane to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was handed over this week in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the Kodiak entering service immediately.

As the photo shows, the aircraft is equipped with amphibious floats, making it versatile for landing on all surfaces.

The Kodiak's base price is roughly $1.6 million. The price paid by the Canadian government was not disclosed.

“The fact that they selected the Kodiak as a key addition to their fleet is a testament to the capabilities and the rugged reliability inherent in the aircraft,” said Quest President Paul Schaller in a statement.

The RCMP will use the Kodiak for aerial surveillance, border monitoring, general police work and rescue support. The aircraft is equipped with a roll-up door in addition to the standard cargo door, allowing the RCMP to easily drop supplies and equipment in  routine or emergency situations.
  

Sandpoint's Quest Aircraft Company said on Wednesday it's raised an undisclosed amount of new financing and investments to keep the aircraft manufacturer moving forward with production of its main plane, the Quest Kodiak.