Cessna's Independence Facility Receives Much Needed Biz

Some welcome news for the folks working at Cessna's Independence (KS) facility was announced Monday morning. Before an enthusiastic crowd of Cessna team members, government officials, and aviation representatives, Cessna Aircraft Company's President and CEO Jack J. Pelton announced that the company's newest business jet, the Citation Mustang, will be assembled in Independence.

"This is an important day for Cessna and Kansas," said Pelton. "Nearly eight years ago we dedicated this facility with the revival of our new single engine piston aircraft product line."

The Cessna Independence facility sits on a 213-acre site. Current structures on the property include separate assembly, paint and delivery facilities that total nearly 400,000 square feet. Cessna broke ground for its Independence facility on May 19, 1995.  Less than 14 months later, on July 3, 1996, Cessna officially restarted production of its single engine piston aircraft. Production line flow of the first Cessna piston engine singles since 1986 commenced on July 10, 1996, and the first customer delivery, a 172R, took place in January 1997.

Cessna officials decided to assemble the Mustang at the Independence facility and manufacture the Mustang wings at their Columbus facility. With over 200 orders already taken, Cessna anticipates Citation Mustang deliveries to be higher than any other Citation model. When the Mustang reaches full production, Cessna expects to have increased its Independence workforce by approximately 500. Currently, Cessna employs approximately 350 people in Independence. 

"The assembly process will be different than the process for customized business jets built in Wichita," Pelton said. "As we look to the future, the excess capacity currently in Wichita will be needed for the ramp up of the CJ3, Sovereign and other new future products."

"The Independence-based Cessna team has proven that they are up to the challenge of building the world's newest and best introductory business jet,"  Pelton added. "They have made remarkable manufacturing advancements with Lean and Textron Six Sigma that have opened up manufacturing space that will now be used to assemble the Citation Mustang."

Aside from the obvious joy over the Mustang's upcoming production, Cessna will celebrate another milestone from Independence. Later this year,, Cessna will celebrate the delivery of the 5000th single engine piston aircraft since restarting production. Today, Cessna produces six single engine piston aircraft at its Independence facility: 172R Skyhawk, 172S Skyhawk SP, 182T Skylane, Turbo T182T Skylane, 206H Stationair, and T206H Stationair.

FMI: www.cessna.com