Cessna offers Caravan maintenance through Chinese joint venture

Cessna-AVIC, Cessna’s joint venture operation in Shijiazhuang, China, has gained initial approval for Cessna Caravan Model 208 series maintenance by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). As a result, the Chinese joint venture company can now perform all maintenance procedures required by Cessna up to 100 flight hours.

Jackie Chen, general manager of Cessna-AVIC (Shijiazhuang), said: “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. Having the maintenance facility located with our Grand Caravan EX production facility provides the most efficient setup for customers in the region.”

ALSO READ: Textron opens new service centre in Paris

The Cessna-AVIC joint venture was one of two signed by Cessna and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA) in early 2012. It is responsible for procedures such as final assembly, paint, interior installation, customisation, flight testing and Chinese customer deliveries of Grand Caravan EX taircraft.

The other Cessna-AVIC joint venture is based in Zhuhai and is responsible for similar operations for Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets in China. Appearing at ABACE 2015 in Shanghai, Cessna also announced that Cessna-AVIC (Zhuhai) received an order for a Citation XLS+ from FT Business Jets Co. Ltd. in Shanghai, which will make the aircraft available for charter.

Bill Schultz, Textron Aviation’s senior vice president, business development in China, said: “The Citation XLS+ has gained a reputation globally as a top performer in terms of cost and performance; a reputation that now extends to charter operators in China. The XLS+ has the cabin size and amenities required for today’s business executive, and it has the performance and operating efficiency unparalleled in the mid-size jet segment.”

Textron Aviation, the owner of Cessna, has a delivered more than 50 business jets and more than 80 turboprops, including the 29 aircraft in China in 2014.

“As the Chinese aviation industry recognises the efficiencies of aligning the right aircraft for the mission scope, business aircraft fleet growth is expanding into the light and mid-size jet categories, as well as the utilitarian turboprop category where Textron Aviation specialises,” said Schultz.

“The extensive Textron Aviation product mix, combined with our philosophy of building a localized, company-direct presence in China, demonstrates our commitment to providing complete life-cycle support for our customers as they grow into new segments of general aviation.”