Lakeland, FL - April 8, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that it has achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to deliver its Caravan models with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics as standard equipment.
Cessna customers now will find the G1000 package on every aircraft ranging from the Skyhawk single-engine piston through the Citation Mustang entry-level business jet. The Caravan transition is well under way to incorporate the new system on the assembly line while simultaneously increasing the production rate, and the first retail deliveries of the Garmin-equipped Caravans remain on schedule to begin by mid-year.
Cessna received a record 272 Caravan orders last year, including 59 taken during the 2007 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Meeting and Convention, where the company introduced the avionics upgrade and announced it will offer optional TKS ice protection from CAV Aerospace on cargo pod-equipped Caravans. Cessna responded to the influx of orders by significantly increasing Caravan production rates for 2008.
The Garmin G1000 system designed for the Caravan line – the Cessna 208, the Grand Caravan (208B) and the Super Cargomaster – includes three 10” displays: two primary flight displays (PFD) and one multi function display (MFD). One of the PFDs can serve as a back up, increasing dispatch ability.
The Caravan G1000 system incorporates the GFC700, an integrated, dual-channel digital autopilot. Other features include a flight director, go-around mode and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). It also includes SafeTaxiTM, a graphical representation of the aircraft on the ground in the airport environment in relation to labeled taxiways, runways and buildings during taxi. Radar, TAWS-B, XM radio and XM weather are optional features.
On TKS-equipped Caravans, the optional ice protection system releases glycol-based fluid through laser-drilled panels on the leading edges of the wings and horizontal and vertical stabilizers to reduce ice accumulation. A slinger ring on the propeller also emits fluid to minimize ice accumulation on the prop, windshield, cargo pod and landing gear. Cessna is currently developing a TKS option for non-cargo pod-equipped Caravans, which is expected to be available for early 2009 deliveries.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $12.6 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 5,100 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 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 release 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 our facilities or at our suppliers' facilities; [c] the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; [d] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which our products are sold or supplied; [e] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [f] the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; [g] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products; and [h] bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in our supply chain.