WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 12, 2009 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, said today Brazil is its leading market for Citation business jets outside the United States, with an in-country fleet of more than 200 Citations for the first time in history. Cessna is represented in Brazil by TAM Aviacao Executiva based at Congonhas Airport (IATA: CGH, ICAO:SBSP) in São Paulo.
"We have had a long relationship with general aviation in Brazil, from our propeller aircraft on up, but the Citation remains most popular," said Todd Duhnke, director, International Citation Sales. "The performance of the Citation makes it perfect for operations throughout Brazil. It moves easily in point-to-point operations between far-off commerce centers around the country without having to rely on airline hubs, it performs well in the extremes of Brazilian climate, and we have TAM providing expert sales and service.
"This is why more Brazilians have chosen Cessna than any other business jet," Duhnke said.
The Citation Mustang, introduced in early 2008, has proven particularly popular in Brazil with 22 of the entry level business jets delivered to Brazilian customers. This is the largest concentration of Mustangs outside the U.S. The Citation Sovereign and XLS+ mid-size jets are also popular.
Currently, there are 213 Citations in Brazil, including 22 Citation Mustangs, both leading totals for any one country outside the U.S. Germany has the second largest Citation fleet outside the U.S. with 197. The United Kingdom follows Brazil in Mustang deliveries with 15. Cessna will be joining TAM to display popular Citations and single-engine propeller aircraft at the Latin American Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (LABACE) taking place Aug. 13-15 in São Paulo.
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2008, Cessna delivered 1,301 aircraft, including 467 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5.662 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,700 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
