Cessna offers company-direct Caravan maintenance for customers in China

 Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced its joint venture operation in Shijiazhuang has gained initial approval for Cessna Caravan Model 208 series maintenance by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) during the second quarter of 2015.  

Initial CAAC Part 145 maintenance approval grants to Cessna-AVIC (Shijiazhuang) Co. Ltd. the ability to perform all maintenance procedures required by the manufacturer up to 100 flight hours.  

“Providing company-direct maintenance is an important step for our joint venture to eventually provide complete life-cycle support for the growing fleet of Cessna Caravan aircraft in China,” said Jackie Chen, general manager, Cessna-AVIC (Shijiazhuang) Co. Ltd. “Having the maintenance facility located with our Grand Caravan EX production facility provides the most efficient setup for customers in the region.”

The Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Shijiazhuang) Co., Ltd., joint venture was one of two signed by Cessna and CAIGA in early 2012. The joint venture company in Shijiazhuang is responsible for final assembly, paint, interior installation, customization, flight testing and delivery of Grand Caravan EX turboprops for the Chinese market. The Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. is responsible for similar operations to assemble and deliver Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets in China.

Orders for Grand Caravan EX aircraft from customers in China, particularly orders for amphibian models from aerial tour operators, have been robust through the first 18 months of joint venture operations. Customers include Meiya Air for aerial sightseeing in Wuzhizhou Island of Sanya; Joy Air, for charter tourism flights among Shanghai, Zhoushan and Shengsi Islands; and Reignwood Group.

About the Caravan

Powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, the Grand Caravan EX boasts a 38 percent improvement over the rate of climb of the Grand Caravan, a 350-foot reduction in takeoff roll and a 10-12 knot cruise speed improvement on average. The all-glass Garmin G1000 avionics suite with GFC 700 autopilot was specifically designed for the EX version.

Cessna expects to deliver its 2,500th Caravan in 2015, and the fleet is now certified in 100 countries with more than 13 million flight hours amassed since the aircraft was introduced in 1985. Caravans fulfill roles for multiple missions, ranging from flight training to recreation, commuter airlines to VIP transport, cargo carriers to humanitarian missions. For more information about the five Caravan models currently available and their capabilities, go to Cessna.txtav.com/Caravan.

Image: Cessna Grand Caravan EX

Web page: Find Cessna Grand Caravan EX information on our website at Cessna.txtav.com.