The program will guide customers through learning to fly and their sport pilot certification featuring the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher, equipped with the exclusive Garmin G300 flight display. The curriculum will also allow users the opportunity to further their pilot certification featuring the Cessna 172S Skyhawk, with the Garmin G1000 integrated flight system. The sport pilot program is on track to launch when the first Cessna SkyCatcher is delivered in the second half of 2009.

The new curriculum is under development in partnership with King Schools to prepare prospective pilots for the sport pilot certificate and beyond. The curriculum features all-new content and incorporates the latest technology, which includes an electronic logbook, a web-based course management system and much more. The new Web site that will administer the program is currently under development as well and will feature links to unique tools both within Cessna and beyond.

“We’re excited about how the new flight training program is shaping up. One of the key improvements is the use of scenario-based learning versus maneuver-based learning. Good instructors have been teaching students to fly using this methodology for years and now it’s one of the enhancements we’ve incorporated into our training curriculum,” said Tom Aniello, Cessna’s vice president, Marketing.

“We know students who learn to fly at one of our CPCs using Cessna’s curriculum accomplish their ratings in 28 percent fewer hours compared to other training programs,” Aniello said.

The curriculum will be offered exclusively through the worldwide Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) network, which consists of 284 domestic and 17 international affiliates. CPC has been the leader in flight training for 35 years, and Cessna’s partnership with King Schools dates back more than 10 years. Since 2000, CPCs have delivered private and instrument pilot training to more than 100,000 pilots around the world.

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 backlog of $15.6 billion as of September 30, 2008. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 191,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,400 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://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, defense and intelligence, 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.