Geneva, Switzerland - May 3, 2010 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced it has teamed with FlightSafety International to offer MX Advantage, a maintenance training program that will augment classroom training with hands-on training at a new facility in Wichita, Kan.
The new MX Advantage program is designed to satisfy most international training requirements, in particular those of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
“We already have a strong relationship with FlightSafety as a partner both for Citation flight training and maintenance training, so we are excited now about this new enhanced maintenance program targeting our major international markets,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. “MX Advantage combines the expertise of both companies for a high-quality training program – using FlightSafety’s classroom expertise and Cessna’s factory maintenance trainers to provide hands-on, type-specific training for our customers.”
“FlightSafety is proud to expand the service and support we provide Cessna and our mutual customers,” said Bruce Whitman, president & CEO FlightSafety International. “We look forward to welcoming them to our new dedicated Cessna Maintenance Training Center in Wichita. The MX Advantage program is a powerful example of our shared commitment to enhance aviation safety worldwide.”
The MX Advantage provides two weeks in the classroom and two weeks of supervised, hands-on maintenance training using Cessna Citations or factory authorized training devices.
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About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. In 2009, Cessna delivered 754 aircraft, including 289 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $3.3 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it 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 multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.