Atlanta, GA - September 24, 2007 - Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, the world's leading manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), said today that the unprecedented strength of the business aircraft market is creating a firm foundation for the company's rapid growth.
"Last year, we delivered 307 business jets. This year we expect to deliver 380. Next year, we plan to deliver 470," said Pelton, who is attending the 2007 National Business Aviation Association Meeting and Convention Sept. 25-27 in Atlanta. "This extraordinary rate of growth is being driven by strong economies and corporate profits and a rapidly-emerging global marketplace. Clearly, our strategy of having the broadest, most comprehensive product line in the industry is serving us well."
At its static display at Fulton County Airport, Cessna is displaying its full range of business jets, including a Citation X with winglets, and several single engine piston and turboprop aircraft. At exhibit #8550 at the Georgia World Conference Center, the company is displaying full scale mockups of a proposed Large Cabin Concept that would be its largest business jet, as well as the XLS+ and CJ4 business jets that are currently in development.
Cessna currently produces eight different models of business jets, along with six models of single engine piston aircraft and three versions of the single engine turboprop Caravan. Pelton said the total backlog as of August 31 is the highest in the company's history - more than $11 billion representing roughly 2,700 units, half of which are business jets. During 2007, as of August 31, Cessna has booked orders for 525 business jets, compared to 496 business jet orders booked in all of 2006.
Over the past 80 years, Cessna has delivered some 190,000 airplanes, making it, by far, the world's largest general aviation manufacturer, based on unit sales.
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2006, Cessna delivered 1,239 aircraft, including 307 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $4.2 billion and a backlog of $8.5 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 5,000 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 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 Textron facilities or Textron's customers or suppliers; [c] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which Textron products are sold or supplied; [d] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; and [e] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products.