Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia - March 19, 2007 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has a range of aircraft suited for a number of applications in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the region, according company officials. The company is showcasing some of its product range – including the Citation XLS and Citation Sovereign – this week at the 2007 Australian Air Show and Aerospace and Defense Exhibition near Geelong.
“Our Citation Sovereign and Citation X both have cross-country range, as well as the performance characteristics suited for the variety of operations and weather common in Australia. The remainder of our business jet line-up – from the Mustang up to the XLS – is perfect for business travel up and down the busy east coast of Australia,” said Todd Duhnke, Cessna director of International Sales. “Business travel requirements in Australia, and in New Zealand, are different from other countries, and we think a customer here will find a jet in our range of nine different business jets to answer even the most stringent requirement.”
“Cessna's great strength extends to the training and sport aircraft world with our single-engine line – the 172, 182 and 206 aircraft,” said Chris Bogaars, Cessna regional sales director for propeller aircraft. “We recently placed a large number of singe-engine pistons in India and in China for pilot training. We already support a large fleet of single-engine pistons and turboprops in the region – more than 160 in Australia – and interest remains high.”
Cessna has a joint exhibit at the Australian Air Show with its authorized business jet sales and service representative, Aeromil Pacific (Hall A – 1N26 and static display at Expo Way – TA15/16/17).
Duhnke said both the Sovereign and XLS on display at the show have proven to be popular in Australia, and in other parts of the world. The XLS, for instance, is the most popular business jet model ever, with more than 500 delivered since its introduction in 1998 to customers around the world. Combining a large, stand-up cabin and generous baggage stowage, the XLS operates from a variety of runway types and lengths (excellent short-field performance) and has a range of some 3,440 km (1,858 nm-NBAA IFR).
The Citation Sovereign, also on static display at Avalon, has a range of more than 5,200 km (2,847 nm) and service ceiling of 14,326 meters (47,000 ft.). Its performance allows it to operate on short runways such as Moorabbin (YMMB) Airport outside Melbourne, even on high-temperature days.
There are currently two Sovereigns operating in Australia; one in Perth and one in Melbourne.
Cessna announced in February it had won contracts in India and China to supply training aircraft. The company will deliver this year 72 Cessna 172 Skyhawks to the Civil Aviation Flying University of China and 11 Skyhawks to the Aero Club of India. Both orders will go to help satisfy the growing requirement for pilot training aircraft in both countries.
“The growing requirement for pilot training we see in other parts of the region has always been present in Australia. People here love airplanes and love to fly them,” Duhnke said. “And as the premier general aviation aircraft company in the world, Cessna has been, and intends to remain, a big part of Australian aviation.”
In addition to Aeromil, Cessna has sales or service agreements with Airflite Pty. Ltd. based near Perth, and Flightline Aviation Ltd. in New Zealand.
For local Australian reporters, you may contact Duhnke in Australia during the show at +1 316 519 5756.
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, more than 189,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of almost 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 report 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 or where Textron Financial offers financing; and [d] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders.