Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced its 2003 production results. The numbers include some 842 new aircraft delivered, $2.3 billion in sales revenue and a year-end order backlog of $4.4 billion. Of the 842 airframes delivered, 197 were Citations, 57 were Caravans and 588 were single-engine pistons. Lost in those numbers is that Cessna also delivered its 4,000th Citation since production began. Said Cessna President and CEO Jack J. Pelton, We expected 2003 to be a challenging year and it was. In spite of the adverse 2003 economic conditions, the Cessna team showed tremendous flexibility in responding to the necessary reduction in production schedules. Our cost structure has been adjusted by implementing a number of efficiency improvements in our manufacturing processes. We can be proud of our 2003 accomplishments, and are confident that our planned 2004 delivery schedule is stable.”
The company also introduced several new models and model upgrades in 2003. The Citation XLS, Citation X interior and options upgrades, and G1000 glass-cockpit avionics on Skylanes and Stationairs were announced in October. Also, Cessnas company-owned and authorized Citation Service Centers have modified 1,970 Citation with RVSM solutions. This is more RVSM upgrades than any other manufacturer, according to the company. Expected in 2004 are full type certification and customer deliveries of the Citation Sovereign, XLS, CJ3, and GARMIN G1000-equipped Skylane and Stationair, and delivery of the 5,000th single- engine piston aircraft since single-engine piston aircraft production was restarted in 1996.
