Cessna Expands Service Capabilities in Europe for Caravans

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is offering “aircraft on ground” (AOG)  maintenance on Cessna 208 Caravan model aircraft at their Citation Service Center in Zurich, Switzerland. The company recently announced that United States based factory-owned Citation Service Centers would perform similar unscheduled AOG maintenance on Cessna’s 208 model Caravan aircraft.

“The Caravan is a versatile aircraft, popular in many parts of the world. Offering AOG service Zurich is an important step in delivering the level of service our customers require,” said Jodi Noah, Cessna senior vice president of single engine and turboprop aircraft. “There are more than 2,000 Cessna Caravan aircraft all over the world, and extending our service network capabilities into the heart of Europe provides a realistic solution for not only the European Caravan operator’s maintenance needs, but also the needs of Caravan operators throughout the region.”

Cessna also owns and operates three Mobile Service Units in Europe – vehicles equipped to perform in-the-field maintenance on aircraft up to and including engine replacements. The Mobile Service Unit based in Zurich will now be certified to perform AOG maintenance on Caravan aircraft, in addition to the family of Citation jets.

Employees at the Zurich service centers have already received the necessary training, and the tooling is in place. “We are excited to be able to provide AOG maintenance for the 208,” said Paul Kempf, general manager of the Citation Service Center in Zurich. “When your aircraft is AOG, you need critical parts and work completed quickly. No one knows the Cessna product better than Cessnans.”

The Cessna 208 Caravan was first manufactured by Cessna in 1984. It is a single pilot aircraft which can be outfitted for various missions, including commuter airlines, cargo, and travel and tourism. Many aftermarket certifications exist for the Caravan, enabling the versatile aircraft to be operated in a wide range of environments. Skis can be attached to the 208 for arctic operation, enlarged tires can be installed for use on the less developed landing strips around the world, and floats can be attached to create an amphibian model. There are also many Caravan aircraft that are operated as skydiving platforms. The latest model is the Grand Caravan EX, announced at EAA AirVenture Oskosh last July, has more than 35 percent more horsepower than the existing Caravan model, improving performance in “high and hot” conditions found at higher altitudes and in warmer climates around the world.

To learn more about the Cessna 208 Caravan, or to learn more details about Cessna’s global network of service, visit Cessna.com.