From SkyCatchers To Sovereigns, Show Proves Lucrative For Cessna

Sunday's kickoff of the 2007 Dubai Air Show brought some big orders for Cessna. The Wichita, KS-based planemaker announced a 25-plane order from Wallan Aviation, and a five-plane deal from Egypt's Smart Aviation for Citation Sovereigns.

Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wallan Aviation ordered four SkyCatcher light sport aircraft, 10 diesel-powered Skyhawk TDs, four Mustangs, one CJ2+, one CJ3, one XLS+, three Sovereigns and one Citation X. The aircraft will be delivered to the Cessna sales representative throughout 2008, 2009 and 2010, in a deal valued at over $110 million.

"We are seeing considerable interest from a new generation of entrepreneurial owners who are attracted to Cessna’s combination of performance and value,” said Saad Wallan, chairman, Wallan Aviation.

"Today’s order from Wallan Aviation demonstrates that business aviation in the Middle East is entering a new era. With our strong and growing sales and support organization in the region, Cessna is well placed to meet this rising tide of demand," said Cessna Vice President, International Sales Trevor Esling.

In a second deal announced Sunday, bizjet charter operator Smart Aviation placed an order for five Citation Sovereign aircraft worth more than $80 million. The aircraft will be delivered through 2009. The company is part-owned by EgyptAir and began operating in early 2007 with a single Citation Sovereign.

"Smart Aviation is Egypt’s first corporate jet operator to cater to businessmen, politicians and for personal and executive air travel. The Citation Sovereign has proven to be ideally suited to our customers’ needs and we look forward to bringing these additional aircraft into service," said Smart Aviation Chief Executive Sameh Anwar.

"We are delighted with this order from Smart Aviation, which demonstrates how well suited the Citation Sovereign is to the needs of the Middle East market with its spacious cabin, significant stowage capacity and APU that allows air conditioned comfort on the apron independent of ground power sources," said Cessna Vice President, International Sales Trevor Esling.

And Speaking Of The Sovereign...

Cessna also took the opportunity at Dubai to highlight the longevity of its Citation fleet... by not only pointing out the over 5,000 Citation bizjets delivered throughout the line's history, but also the accumulation of over 100,000 hours of flight time throughout the Sovereign fleet.

The first Sovereign entered service in September 2004... and since then, Cessna has delivered more than 160 Sovereigns to customers in 41 countries.

"The Citation Sovereign offers an all-around balanced platform for customers in this region who travel around the Middle East and into Western Europe," said Trevor Esling, vice president, International Sales, Cessna Aircraft Company. "The large, climate controlled cabin and superb hot temperature runway performance in combination with excellent range, payload and baggage accommodation offer tremendous capability."

The aircraft features a stand up cabin that accommodates up to 12 passengers and a crew of two. It has a 458 knot max cruise speed, 2,847 nautical mile range and 47,000 foot ceiling.

FMI: www.cessna.com