Launch customer

A launch customer ( German  launch customer ) is the first customer and first-time users of a newly to be constructed or engineered product of the capital goods industry .

This plays an important role in the development of an aircraft , for example , because it determines its first configuration . This includes the choice of engines , the type and number of seats, the required take -off weight and the range . The launch customer accompanies the prototypes during certification and then transfers these models to their regular service. The associated effort is amortized through a lower purchase price, the individual configuration and the mostly high interest of the passengers .