Is It What Flight Schools Are Looking For?

As ANN reported in Sunday's coverage of the new Cessna 162 SkyCatcher, it's pretty clear the planemaker had the flight-training segment in mind when designing the aluminum-bodied, high-wing, light-sport aircraft.

The segment noticed, too. Among those in attendance at the press event were John and Martha King, owners of King schools... who expressed great interest in the new aircraft.

"In my view, this kind of event happens every 60 years -- Cessna unveiling a new training plane," John said. "It's really exciting to be here. This is a real candidate to bring new people into aviation."

King said being a Cessna meant a lot, and separates the Skycatcher from many other aircraft in the category.

"It's a Cessna. It's safe, reliable and maintainable," King said. "It will have Cessna's worldwide support."

Martha pointed out how the new aircraft can help reach a new generation of prospective pilots.

"We have known a number of people who dropped out of flying after their solo. Some of them get lost on their solo flights -- not even on a solo cross-country, just going to the practice area. This technology will take a lot of these fears out of flying."

Martha (below) added many people become interested in aviation through simulators, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, and they're accumulating thousands of hours -- and glass panel displays like the G300 will transfer easily from computer to flight training.

John said, "These glass panels are in every kind of airplane now -- from Airbuses to Skyhawks -- and even in our cars."

Don Knight, another CFI, had mixed reactions. "This is a positive for the industry," Knight said. "But this whole movement is still just catching on."

Knight said that $100,000 is "a lot of money" for such a plane, "But you have to look at this as a whole. If this turns out to be a great plane that can take thousands of hours of training, it could turn out great."

FMI: www.cessnaskycatcher.com