Cessna Aircraft plans to open Middle East branches of its well-established Cessna Pilot Centre (CPC) flight training organisations.
The company's authorised representatives for single engine piston aircraft in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, respectively Wallan Aviation and Al Qasimi Group, are evaluating training air space availability and local approvals for regional CPCs.
Roger Whyte, Cessna's senior vice-president of sales and marketing, says: "We believe there is a demand in the region from private individuals wanting to learn to fly, as well as from student pilots seeking an aviation career.
"As people want to fly the newest technology, the introduction of an all-glass integrated avionics system in Cessna's single engine aircraft will also increase demand for our aircraft in the Middle East."
Garmin's new G1000 all-glass integrated avionics system will debut on new Skylanes, Turbo Skylanes, Stationairs and Turbo Stationairs as a factory installed NAV III option beginning in the second quarter of 2004.
The G1000 avionics package is the most advanced flightdeck package to fly on a single engine piston aircraft. It integrates all primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather and engine sensor data on two large 10.4in (264mm) glass, high resolution, XGA technology display units. The system will ease pilot workload and offer a new level of safety and situational awareness during all phases of flight, says Cessna.
Whyte adds: "Our aircraft provide the technology with new avionics in a tested and reliable airframe that has the durability to operate reliably in the Middle East environment."
Workhorse
Cessna also recently announced the Oasis, a new luxury interior concept for its workhorse Caravan aircraft that could have significance in the Middle East beyond just its name.
The Oasis is intended to cater for a new market niche for the Caravan, beyond its traditional cargo and passenger mission.
Cessna believes increased sales of Caravans to private individuals and companies requiring comfortable and affordable transportation over short distances, 500nm (925km) or less, in the United States, Europe, Central and South America, could have a parallel in the Middle East.
The Oasis interior features four to six business jet seats with the capability of seating up to nine passengers with an aft bench seat installed. Additional options include refreshment cabinets, worktables and audio and video entertainment systems. Another regional opportunity for the Caravan is as a security or surveillance platform. Whyte says: "Many governments and police organisations already use the aircraft for this mission. The aircraft has a low noise signature, excellent payload, and long loiter/range capability."
Naturally the region also holds significant potential for Cessna's aircraft aimed at the business transportation market, and the company will be displaying the Citation CJ2, Citation Excel and Citation X at Dubai.
In the past 10 years, Cessna has sold 20 Citations, as well as nine Caravans and 22 single engine piston aircraft in the area.
Whyte says: "We expect our newest model, the Citation XLS, also to be popular in the region. The Citation XLS is the Excel's successor and will have significantly enhanced performance and an updated cabin.
"The new Citation Sovereign will also be a perfect fit for the Middle East region. Its slightly swept wing design gives the Sovereign impressive cruise speeds and the ability to use shorter runways.
"Today we're seeing more fixed-base operations (FBOs), charter companies and aircraft management companies. These companies are testament to the fact that business aviation is growing in the Middle East. The future of business aviation in the Middle East looks very bright indeed."
Source: Flight Daily News
