Cessna is to give all of its existing authorised piston-single service stations the opportunity to sell new aircraft. The company says that the move will enable customers to obtain service at the same place as they buy their new piston-single aircraft.

Cessna plans to form a network of dealers or distributors from its existing service stations which will work with the company's regional sales managers. The first authorised representatives are scheduled to be announced by Cessna before the end of 1996.

Single-engine sales and marketing director Doug Smith says that the existing service stations have "strong relationships" with owners and operators of Cessna aircraft.

The Model 172 Skyhawk and 182 Skylane have entered production at Cessna's Independence, Kansas, piston-single assembly plant, with the first 172 to be delivered in January 1997 and the first 182 in February.

The first pilot-production Model 206 Stationair was flown in early November, and assembly of the first pilot-production turbocharged Turbo Stationair was due to begin in early December. Production of both types will begin at Independence by mid-1997.

Source: Flight International

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