Shanghai, China - March 28, 2012 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has today signed a preliminary agreement to work towards appointing Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre (SHPBASC) as an authorized service facility.
SHPBASC currently provides lounge facilities, handling and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for business aircraft at Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport. Authorized service facility status will allow SHPBASC to support Citation Sovereigns operating in northern Asia. SHPBASC is a joint venture between Shanghai Airport Authority and aircraft service company Hawker Pacific.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), Scott Ernest, Cessna president and CEO, said: "This agreement is the first step towards SHPBASC being awarded authorized service facility status. We are committed to China and our valued customers here; this facility will further enhance Cessna's support network across the Asia-Pacific region."
Carey Matthews, SHPBASC general manager, added: "With over 30 years' experience of maintaining and handling aircraft, Hawker Pacific has built up a solid support network in China. Shanghai Hawker Pacific is therefore ideally placed to offer a high level of service to Cessna's rapidly growing fleet across China and the surrounding region."
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered more than 192,500 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,100 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2010, Cessna delivered 535 aircraft, including 179 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.6 billion. 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.
Contacts
Roxanne Bernstein
+1 316 617 3872
rbernstein@cessna.textron.com
Marc Cornelius
+44 7876 500260
mcornelius@8020comms.com