Lakeland, FL - April 13, 2010 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, said at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., it is set to accelerate customer deliveries of the new 162 Skycatcher light sport aircraft.
Cessna delivered its first new Skycatcher at the end of 2009 and is notifying customers that, while aircraft modifications have delayed initial deliveries, Cessna and production partner Shenyang Aircraft Corp in China are working together to ramp up deliveries through the rest of 2010. Another group of Skycatchers is being readied in Wichita now for delivery to customers in coming weeks.
Cessna continues to work with European authorities to gain approval for the LSA certification process that will allow the company to begin deliveries to European customers. Currently, a total of 12 countries around the world recognize ASTM standards for the new LSA class.
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.