Manufacturer says Citation production ‘sold out' this year as 2006 slots are snapped up
Cessna is "ahead of schedule" in preparing the Citation Mustang entry-level jet for first flight in the second quarter, says chief executive Jack Pelton. "The aircraft is on its gear, the empennage is on, the wiring is in and the power is on," he says.
Briefing analysts last week, Pelton said Cessna has a backlog of "well over" 200 orders for the Mustang, valued at around $625 million, with the next aircraft available in the second quarter of 2009. "Meaningful deliveries" will get under way in 2007, and Cessna's Independence, Kansas plant will eventually be able to produce up to 150 aircraft a year.
Pelton says the $2.4 million Mustang is being developed under a "must cost" structure to ensure adequate profit margins compared with competing very-light jets. To reduce development risk, he says, Cessna is flight testing the Mustang's Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F engine on a CitationJet testbed, while avionics supplier Garmin is flying the G1000 integrated avionics and autopilot in a Citation CJ2.
Cessna expects to maintain its share of the light to mid-sized business jet market – 53% over the last five years – as total deliveries rise from 400 last year to a forecast 750 in 2009, Pelton says. The company booked 333 Citation orders last year and has "essentially sold out" its planned production of 235 aircraft this year. He adds that 2006 is "off to a good start" with 187 orders already booked.
The CJ3 light jet, superlight XLS and mid-size Sovereign – all certificated last year – account for most of the growth, says Pelton. The company has a backlog of $1.7 billion for the $14.8 million Sovereign, $1.2 billion for the $10.1 million XLS and $850 million for the $6 million CJ3. Backlogs stand at $140 million and $400 million respectively for the $4.3 million CJ1+ and $5.7 million CJ2+ light jets now under development (Flight International, 8-14 March).
Pelton is tight-lipped about future product developments, but indicates that there will be announcements this year.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
