“We now offer the same fully-integrated, all-Garmin system from the Skyhawk through the Citation Mustang,” said John Doman, Cessna vice president of worldwide propeller aircraft sales. “Having the consistency in avionics eases the transition for our pilot owners.”

The autopilot function selector will be conveniently located on the Garmin G1000 flight display with the GFC700 capable of using all of the data available within the G1000 avionics system. Among the new navigational features that will increase functionality and safety and reduce pilot workload are:

• All-digital, dual-channel, two-axis flight control – this system features an attitude-based (versus rate-based) autopilot.
• Flight Director – this offers pitch and roll guidance to show the pilot the attitude for a standard climb or turn.
• Flight Level Change – this ensures the aircraft maintains airspeed while climbing or descending to a pre-selected altitude.
• Go-Around Mode – this engages the Flight Director in a wings-level, seven-degree pitch-up attitude to help the pilot safely navigate an aborted landing.
• Pitch Hold – this mode, in conjunction with the Flight Director, maintains a constant pitch attitude.

Additionally, Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) with Lateral Performance, Vertical Guidance approach (LPV) and Vertical Navigation (VNAV) capabilities; Garmin SafeTaxiTM; and Garmin FliteCharts became standard for the Skyhawk, Skylane and Stationair starting with 2007 models. The Garmin ChartView powered by Jeppesen is optional.

The company announced the 2008 updates to the Skyhawk today at the annual Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Expo, running Oct. 4-6 in Hartford, Conn. At the static display at Hartford-Brainard Airport, Cessna features the Skyhawk TD (Turbo Diesel), Skylane, Stationair, Grand Caravan, Citation Mustang and Citation CJ2+. In the exhibit hall, Cessna showcases a mock-up of the SkyCatcher.

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. Cessna has a current backlog of $11 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 190,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 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.

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