Also Slows Engineering Work On Columbus

We're not out of this recession yet... and Cessna recently announced it will further cut back production of its highest-dollar aircraft, as the US economy continues through a "difficult and tenuous time."

In a March 13 email to employees, CEO Jack Pelton announced the planemaker will scale back production of its Citation CJ, Sovereign and Citation X bizjets at its main Wichita production facility. In the coming weeks, Cessna plans to announce furloughs for some workers on those production lines.

"As you are well aware, the global economy remains unstable and the international community faces tremendous challenges," Pelton wrote. "While these steps have been painful for us all, they were necessary."

The announcement comes on top of the 4,600 layoffs announced earlier this year, which will go into effect by the end of this month. Cessna says the furloughs announced Friday are expected to be just that -- temporary workforce reductions, not outright layoffs.

The Associated Press reports Cessna had planned to build 535 jets in Wichita this year... but now expects to produce only 375. The company originally expected that drop in production rates to be handled through the layoffs, and reduced work weeks for remaining workers.

"Certain aircraft production lines are going to have to wind down a bit more quickly than would just be taken care of by reduced work weeks, and so we are going to have to furlough people associated with those production lines," said Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver.

The furloughs will not affect workers at Cessna's plant in Independence, which builds the smaller and less-expensive Citation Mustang light jet. On the opposite end of Cessna's turbofan lineup, the slumping economy will also mean slowed engineering work on the upcoming Citation Columbus large jet, originally slated for entry into service in early 2014.

"The economic issues facing us today are also impacting the future, and circumstances have caused us to extend engineering development work on the Citation Columbus at least six months," Pelton wrote. The company has already begun work on a dedicated production facility to build the flagship in Cessna's lineup.

FMI: www.cessna.com