Cessna Boasts $6.1 Billion Backlog

Cessna rolls-soars-into NBAA 2000 with an almost unbelievable order backlog pegged at $6.1 billion, representing 730 yet-to-be-delivered Citation business jets.

At the opposite end of the market the Textron subsidiary is selling nearly 1,000 single-engine piston aircraft this year from its plant in Independence, KS. A new turbocharged version of the 182 Skylane is being announced here, as is a new block change to the firm's entire line of Skyhawk, Skylane and Stationair singles. They're being spiffed up inside, and Bendix/King's KMD 550 multifunction display, to work with the KLN 94 color GPS/IFR receiver available now, is being offered as a new option.

The business jet market still shows few signs of slipping, but Cessna, sensibly, is stressing new service and customer support initiatives-and capital investments-at NBAA 2000. The firm is promoting its new Internet-based CPDXpress (for Cessna parts distribution express) and improvements to Cessna service centers as far flung as Sacramento, CA, and Paris, France, with the biggest of all (outside the company's Wichita headquarters) to be built in Orlando, FL.

When the $28 million facility is completed in early 2002 it will complement the existing Cessna installation at Orlando International Airport, which may be converted into a VIP center, or may be used for fractional aircraft support.

Along those lines Cessna is talking up its new CitationShares program here in New Orleans. CitationShares is a new joint venture with TAG Aviation USA. It's based at White Plains, NY, and its mission is to promote Cessna Citation aircraft to the fractional market (Citations are already available fractionally, of course; the NetJets program alone offers half a dozen models).

"Fractional ownership continues to emerge as the fastest growing segment of business aviation, and the Cessna Citation is the business jet of choice for fractional ownership customers," says Cessna CEO Gary Hay. "We have studied this market and believe that the ideal opportunity has presented itself as we join forces with another outstanding company," he said when the venture was unveiled this past summer.

The CitationShares fleet kicks off with the recently certified Citation CJ1 (a $3.7 million airplane if bought outright) and the $5.2 million Citation Bravo, with other models to be added as demand warrants. A CitationShares order for 50 Citation aircraft was disclosed at Britain's Farnborough International Air Show in July.

CitationShares is being promoted for the first and last time by Cessna at NBAA 2000, as next year it's to have an NBAA display of its own.

Also being touted in New Orleans this year is Cessna's latest aircraft, the Model 680 Citation Sovereign. It's aimed squarely at the 'traditional midsize' segment of the business jet market, Cessna says, with the largest cabin available in its class, and range of 2,500 nmi with NBAA IFR reserves and eight passengers. Throwing modesty to the winds, "It's the best combination of size, comfort, range, and price in aviation history," Cessna says.

"We are cutting metal right now," a Cessna spokeswoman said on the eve of the show, for a static test Sovereign prototype. Assembly of the first flying prototype will begin in Wichita early in 2001 with an eye to late in the first quarter of 2002 for the first flight.

Sovereign certification is expected in late 2003 with deliveries commencing in early 2004. Germany's Atlas Air Service is a recently disclosed Sovereign buyer.

Cessna announced last year that Honeywell's Primus Epic integrated avionics package, including an engine indicating and crew alerting system, will be the standard Sovereign instrumentation. The Sovereign will have twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C engines.

More than 400 engineers are said to be committed to the Sovereign project. Brad Thress is Sovereign program manager.