Cessna slates Flight Instructor Safety Stand Down

Cessna Aircraft Co. has received FAA approval for its flight instructor safety stand down, a first for any aircraft original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The safety stand down is a training seminar designed for flight instructors, flight instructor candidates and commercial pilots who may have an interest in becoming flight instructors. The course serves as an all-inclusive training event for several mandated recurrent courses with an emphasis on using new technology to enhance aviation safety. The course will also serve as a flight instructor refresher clinic.

The first-ever Cessna Flight Instructor Safety Stand Down is scheduled for June 13-14 in San Diego.

For more information: Cessna.com/Training or CessnaElearning.com.

Citation CJ4 wing mated to fuselage

Cessna Aircraft Co. completed wing/fuselage mate of Citation CJ4 serial number 003 earlier this week. The new Citation CJ4, the latest in the popular CJ series, will enter service in 2010.

cessna_citation_cj4_wingmate01Three aircraft, a prototype and serial numbers 001 and 002, have started certification flight test in Wichita, already accumulating more than 800 flight hours of developmental testing. The first two production aircraft were assembled to production specifications on production tooling while No. 3 is the first CJ4 to be assembled with production tooling on the new assembly line.

The original CitationJet was introduced in 1993 and the fleet of nearly 1,400 airplanes has amassed more than 2.1 million flight hours.

For more information: Cessna.com.

Cessna kicks off show season with strong sales

Cessna opened Sun ‘n Fun with strong sales.

Company officials reported that the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) ordered 19 Cessna 182T Skylanes. CAP has the largest fleet of Cessna single-engine aircraft in the world, with more than 500 used for missions in its disaster relief, cadet programs, aerospace education and search and rescue operations.

The University of North Dakota ordered 13 additional Cessna 172S Skyhawks to be used for flight training at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. UND Aerospace will fly some 120,000 hours this year with its training fleet of more than 120 aircraft. This order is part of a multi-year contract announced last year. The school took delivery of 25 172S aircraft in 2008.

For more information: Cessna.com.

Cessna’s Mustang gets SVT

mustangCessna Aircraft Co. has received FAA certification for Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for the Citation Mustang.

Besides the Mustang, SVT is now an FAA-certified option for all G1000-equipped 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes, 206 Stationairs and the Caravan product line.

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Cessna unveils new Skyhawk seating configuration

Cessna Aircraft Co. unveiled a new crew/cockpit resource management (CRM) training seat for the Skyhawk at Sun ‘n Fun.

The CRM training seat is a single, forward facing seat positioned aft and center of the pilot and co-pilot seats. The new seat configuration was designed with airline training schools and university flight programs in mind, according to John Doman, vice president of worldwide propeller aircraft sales.

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Cessna gets FAA nod for G1000 SVT

Cessna Aircraft Co. has received FAA certification for Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for all G1000-equipped 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes, 206 Stationairs and the Caravan product line.

The Garmin G1000 SVT gives the pilot a 3D graphical representation of the surrounding terrain and displays the aircraft’s position in an enhanced topographical database, according to company officials. Garmin’s SVT also includes other features such as 3D depiction of obstacle identification, traffic, flight path marker, zero pitch line, runway information and airport signs.

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Citations gain international certifications

mustangCessna Aircraft Co. has gained several international certifications for various Citation models.

The Citation Mustang gained certification this month in China and the Isle of Mann (UK). The Citation XLS+ gained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, while the Citation X gained certification in Nigeria.

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Citation Service Centers add PWC engine expertise

Beginning in April, Cessna Aircraft Co. will offer Citation turbine engine hot section inspections for Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D and PWC 500 series engines across its Citation Service Center network through an arrangement with Dallas Airmotive.

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Upgrades may qualify for bonus depreciation

Officials in Cessna Aircraft Co.‘s Customer Service organization reported this week that enhancements made to Cessna business aircraft in 2009 may qualify for the new bonus depreciation tax treatment included in the recent federal stimulus legislation, depending on the tax accounting treatment a company uses for the upgrade.

“As long as the upgrade adds value to the aircraft or increases the life of the aircraft, it may qualify for favorable bonus depreciation tax treatment in 2009,” said Mark Paolucci, senior vice president, Cessna Customer Service.

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Cessna 400 gains EASA certification

Cessna Aircraft Co. has gained full type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EAcessna1SA) for the 400 Corvalis TT high performance, single-engine piston aircraft.

The 400 Corvalis TT is billed as the world’s fastest fixed-gear single-engine piston aircraft with a top speed of 235 knots and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet.

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