Oshkosh, WI - July 23, 2007 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the EAA AirVenture 2007 that Scandinavian Aviation Academy, based in Västerås, Sweden has ordered one Cessna SkyCatcher – Cessna's recently announced Light Sport Aircraft – and 12 Skyhawks.
“We're excited to be one of the first European flight schools to sign up for Cessna's new SkyCatcher,” said Scandinavian Aviation Academy President Mats Holmgren. “This new aircraft will make flying affordable for many customers who have previously been unable to start or continue to fly. Our new Skyhawks, equipped with the Garmin G1000, will renew and expand our previous fleet of Cessna single engine trainers, giving our students access to the new glass cockpit technology.”
Scandinavian Aviation Academy has offered flight training in Sweden since 1963 and has a total fleet of 25 Cessna trainers there. The company operates one Cessna Authorized Service Station and two training facilities in Sweden and one training academy in San Diego, Calif.
The purchase agreement was signed through Cessna's Scandinavian sales representative, Scandinavian Airtech AB which has been a part of Cessna's dealer network since 1973.
“We're pleased to continue our successful relationship with Scandinavian Aviation Academy and look forward to future growth in the European general aviation industry,” said Scandinavian Airtech President Evert Raadsen.
PHOTOS: From left to right: John Doman, Cessna vice president Propeller Sales; Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO; Evert Raadsen, president Scandinavian Airtech; Mats Holmgren, president Scandinavian Aviation Academy and Roger Whyte, Cessna senior vice president Sales and Marketing gather in front of the new Cessna SkyCatcher after the contract signing. http://cessna.com/news/images/CessnaOshkosh07_02.jpg
Scandinavian Aviation Academy is upgrading and expanding their fleet with 12 Cessna Skyhawks. From left to right: Roger Whyte, John Doman, Mats Holmgren, Evert Raadsen and Jack Pelton. http://cessna.com/news/images/CessnaOshkosh07_01.jpg
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2006, Cessna delivered 1,239 aircraft, including 307 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $4.2 billion and a backlog of $8.5 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 189,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of almost 5,000 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this report are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: [a] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; [b] the interruption of production at Textron facilities or Textron's customers or suppliers; [c] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which Textron products are sold or supplied or where Textron Financial offers financing; and [d] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders.