ZHUHAI, China, Nov. 11, 2014 – The market for business aviation in China is, by most accounts, predicted to grow during the coming decade and Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, with its Cessna and Beechcraft brands, is positioned to play a significant role in the region, according to company executives attending Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai.
“Beechcraft and Cessna products are the leading models in China in the categories in which we compete, and our focus is to continue to identify the general aviation needs of the region and provide the best solutions,” said Bill Harris, vice president, Sales in the region. “Changes in the operating environment in China and in the perception of business aviation have resulted in robust market development, with the number of business aircraft in the region nearly doubling in just three years.”
Textron Aviation products on display this week at Airshow China represent a broad spectrum to match customer missions: Cessna Citation XLS+ midsize business jet, Beechcraft King Air 350i twin-engine turboprop, Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprop and Beechcraft Baron G58 twin-engine piston.
“From the versatility of our Citation XLS+ to our high-performance Baron G58 piston, Textron Aviation’s depth is as valuable as our brands’ name recognition after being in the region for decades,” Harris said. “We continue to grow our presence in-country, not only through increased sales and support activities but we’ve partnered with local industry organizations to produce both Citation XLS+ business jets and Caravan turboprops in China, specifically for the growing Chinese market.”
For customers in China Cessna’s Citation XLS+ is now available through CESSNA-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Cessna and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company Ltd. (CAIGA). The Citation XLS+ gained final type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in April and the joint venture is poised to deliver the first Citation XLS+ business jet assembled in-country to a Chinese customer. The Caravan is also being produced in China for in-country customers under another joint venture between Cessna and CAIGA, CESSNA-AVIC Aircraft (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd.
“Having an increased presence in-country has allowed us to be closer and more responsive to customers who can benefit from the broad scope of Textron Aviation products and services enjoyed worldwide,” Harris said. “Textron Aviation is actively investing in the growth of general aviation in China and partnering with local entities to elevate the use of aircraft as business productivity tools.”
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Media Contacts:
Stephanie Harder
+1.316.517.8702
sharder@txtav.com
textronaviation.com/
Alice Zhang
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About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft, and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit textronaviation.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, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com.
About CESSNA-AVIC (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd.
CESSNA-AVIC Aircraft (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Cessna Aircraft Company and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA), obtained its business license from the Ministry of Commerce in September 2013. Joint venture operations conduct final assembly of Cessna Caravans for the Chinese market including assembly, paint, testing, interior installation, customization, flight testing and delivery of the Caravan to in-country customers. Deliveries of aircraft by the joint venture began in December 2013.
About CESSNA-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd.
CESSNA-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Cessna Aircraft Company and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA), obtained its business license from the Ministry of Commerce in July 2014. Joint venture operations conduct final assembly of Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets for the Chinese market including assembly, paint, testing, interior installation, customization, flight testing and delivery of the XLS+ to in-country customers. Deliveries of aircraft by the joint venture began in November 2014.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements 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 statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; risks related to our international business, including relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.