Aircraft Ownership
Cessna training facilities first in line for SkyCatchers
SkyCatcher customers are discovering that no matter when they wrote a contract on the new light sport airplane from Cessna Aircraft, they aren’t first in line. Or even close to first.
Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) and Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representatives (CSTARs) have always had the inside track to receive the first SkyCatchers.
Cessna’s John Doman said that the confusion stemmed from Oshkosh when people were ordering airplanes. There was an electronic board where people assumed that they were seeing actual production positions.
“In fact, we pre-allocated SkyCatcher delivery positions in advance of Oshkosh to our CPCs, CSTARs, fleet customers, and retail purchasers. This has resulted in some purchasers being disappointed in the preliminary delivery schedule information they were provided last month,” he said. “When we are able to provide a more complete explanation of the situation most order holders understand, but obviously, almost everyone would like to be able to take delivery of their new SkyCatcher as soon as possible.”
The delivery schedule has not changed. There will be 50 in late 2009, meaning most individual customers will not see an aircraft until 2010. Then 350 will be delivered in 2010, followed by 600 in 2011.
May 19, 2008
