Cessna to develop intercontinental jets
Cessna Aircraft, a subsidiary of Textron, is to develop its first intercontinental executive jet. The move by Cessna will pit it directly against France's Dassault, Canada's Bombardier and Gulfstream of the US. According to Cessna, development costs for the range, to be called Citation Columbus, are expected to total around $750 million. The company said it is aiming for certification of the eight-seater jet by 2013, with the first delivery arriving a year later. Cessna is currently the biggest manufacturer of business jets by volume, but has for the past several years concentrated its efforts in the light and mid-size jet sector, where it is the dominant player. It is also one of the emerging leaders in the new segment of very light jets, where its Citation Mustang already has a loyal following. The Citation Columbus has been designed to overcome the group's absence from the most lucrative section of the business jet market, where demand is stronger than ever in markets outside the US. Cessna say that order numbers from outside US territory accounted for 53 per cent of its total jet orders last year, which rose by 48 per cent to 773 jets. Lewis Campbell, Textron chief executive, said the planned range of larger cabin jets was 'an important strategic step' in the long-term goals of Cessna. Pratt & Whitney Canada has been selected to supply its PW810 range of engines for the Columbus range, after tough competition from Rolls-Royce and Snecma.
Cessna Aircraft, a subsidiary of Textron, is to develop its first intercontinental executive jet. The move by Cessna will pit it directly against France's Dassault, Canada's Bombardier and Gulfstream of the US. According to Cessna, development costs for the range, to be called Citation Columbus, are expected to total around $750 million. The company said it is aiming for certification of the eight-seater jet by 2013, with the first delivery arriving a year later. Cessna is currently the biggest manufacturer of business jets by volume, but has for the past several years concentrated its efforts in the light and mid-size jet sector, where it is the dominant player. It is also one of the emerging leaders in the new segment of very light jets, where its Citation Mustang already has a loyal following. The Citation Columbus has been designed to overcome the group's absence from the most lucrative section of the business jet market, where demand is stronger than ever in markets outside the US. Cessna say that order numbers from outside US territory accounted for 53 per cent of its total jet orders last year, which rose by 48 per cent to 773 jets. Lewis Campbell, Textron chief executive, said the planned range of larger cabin jets was 'an important strategic step' in the long-term goals of Cessna. Pratt & Whitney Canada has been selected to supply its PW810 range of engines for the Columbus range, after tough competition from Rolls-Royce and Snecma.