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May 18, 2009
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Jack Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO speaking at a press conference opening the show. |
Both Cessna and Bell were present at this year’s EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition) trade show in Geneva, Switzerland, promoting commercial aviation products at Europe’s largest gathering of business aviation companies, owners, operators and potential customers.
EBACE provided vital opportunities for Cessna and Bell to meet customers, show-off new and existing products, and ensure that the message gets out about the crucial role of commercial aviation in the global economy – particularly important today as commercial aviation sales continue to decrease.
For Cessna, Europe is the company’s second-largest market behind the U.S. with more than 1,000 Citations delivered to date.
“We have an 80-year tradition, we have a loyal customer base, and, we have some of the industry’s top people making up the Cessna family,” Jack Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO said at a press conference opening the show.
Pelton noted that the current lull in business aviation activity, while the most profound in many years, is best kept in perspective when discussing the global role of business aviation and of Cessna. “We will spend about the same percentage of revenue in 2009 on new product and new feature development, and we will spend it on satisfying customer requirements for existing products in existing markets. We will continue to improve our global customer service network – already second to none in the industry – and make it even more responsive to the customer.”
At EBACE, Cessna announced a number of news announcements including new initiatives in customer service and several program updates. Cessna also took to EBACE a full line of Citations as well as two of its more popular propeller aircraft. On static display are the Citation Mustang, Citation CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3, Citation Excel and XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X. Cessna is also exhibiting its Grand Caravan (208) and Cessna 400 Corvalis TT, recently certified by EASA (the European equivalent of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration or FAA) for operations in Europe.
In a demonstration of Textron's businesses working together, Cessna announced that it has signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter to use Bell’s European parts distribution facility at Amsterdam Airport Schipol (AMS/EHAM). This is part of Cessna Customer Support’s ongoing efforts to get AOG ("aircraft on ground") customers back in the air faster.
Citation operators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa will continue to work directly with Cessna’s full customer support network of authorized service centers, the company’s own Paris Citation Service Center or Citation Parts Distribution.
Bell’s commercial business is smaller than Cessna’s but EBACE still offers an excellent opportunity to talk to potential customers about Bell’s commercial offerings. This year, the company is focusing in particular on its new 429 twin helicopter, which is expected to be certified very soon.
The 429 was designed with significant input from customers and features the largest cabin in its class, flat floors, performance and operating costs that are some of the industry's best. It’s particularly suited for Emergency Medical Service operators. At EBACE, Bell pitched the 429’s virtues to new customers as well as existing Bell owners who wanted to upgrade to enjoy the operational advantages of the 429.
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