Textron Aviation highlights versatile product line at Singapore Airshow 2016

Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is displaying an impressive lineup of its commercial and special mission products at this year’s Singapore Airshow, including the show debut of the Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 350i. Also on display will be the Cessna Citation CJ4, Beechcraft King Air C90GTx, Cessna Grand Caravan EX and the Cessna TTx. 

“Textron Aviation is at the forefront of progress within the general aviation industry,” said Chris Bogaars, regional vice president of Sales, Asia-Pacific. “As the needs in the Asia-Pacific market continue to evolve, we are aggressively investing in innovations that bring the latest technology to our customers.”

Leading the APAC business jet market

The Asia-Pacific region is perfectly suited for the extensive mission and performance capabilities of Cessna’s broad range of Citation business jets. With nearly 300 Citations in operation throughout APAC, Citations are among the most popular choice in the region, including the Mustang, M2, CJ3+ and CJ4 light jet models, in addition to the XLS+ and Sovereign+ series. 

With a range of 2,850 nautical miles and class-leading cabin comfort and ownership costs, the company’s recently certified Citation Latitude is an ideal platform for the region. Following a successful demonstration tour last year throughout Asia-Pacific, the Latitude earned high marks from owners and operators looking for exceptional performance capabilities and maximum comfort at a midsize acquisition price. The company will be conducting a second demonstration tour of the Latitude in the Asia-Pacific region later this year, visiting locations including Australia, Japan, China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Turboprop versatility wins in region

With nearly 900 aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, Beechcraft and Cessna’s turboprop platforms lead the market. The Beechcraft King Air and Cessna Grand Caravan EX have proven to be ideally suited to the region’s needs, due to their ample range, solid load capacity and  flexible special mission capability.

The Beechcraft King Air 350i equipped with the new Pro Line Fusion avionics system and cabin upgrades is making its Singapore Airshow debut this week. Pro Line Fusion for the King Air brings one of the most trusted avionics architectures to the first full touch-screen flight display system.  The one-of-a-kind, intuitive flight deck interface enhances the flight experience while reducing pilot workload. 

A favorite among private and commercial operators in the region, the Cessna Grand Caravan EX allows for extended missions and higher payload. The Grand Caravan Ex features class-leading standard interior with an all-new lightweight seat frame, durable upholstery and enhanced ergonomics for unmatched comfort. 

Dedicated support for region’s largest fleet

Supporting the largest fleet in the Asia-Pacific, Textron Aviation’s Singapore company-owned service center and robust network of authorized service facilities support its customers in the region. Recently receiving approval to support Philippine-registered aircraft, the Singapore service center serves as the region’s parts room, housing a significant parts inventory to support customers in the APAC region. Jointly operated with Bell Helicopter, the 160,500 sq. ft. facility houses Bell Helicopter and Textron Aviation hangars, a paint booth, warehouse, overhaul and maintenance shops, training, office areas and a 77,000 sq. ft. ramp.

Strengthening special mission and defense portfolios in Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is one of the leading markets for Textron Aviation’s special mission aircraft. The versatile Cessna and Beechcraft platforms continue to be used throughout the region in multiple roles such as air calibration, flight inspection, surveillance, maritime patrol and air ambulance. 

Beechcraft Defense Company is also building strong positions in the Asia-Pacific defense market, with the Beechcraft T-6 trainer and the AT-6 light attack platform. Globally, the T-6 platform is being used by more than 20 countries to train pilots, navigators and weapons systems operators. In the Asia-Pacific region, the company has 11 T-6C aircraft operating in New Zealand. The AT-6 Wolverine is also designed and purpose-built to meet the various mission needs for the region.