Runs To The Border To Get Wired

Cessna Aircraft along with its partner Textron, has formally dedicated a new aerospace production facility in Chihuahua, Mexico, the Wichita Eagle reports.

While the facility has been open for half a year, the dedication ceremonies recognized that the workers at the plant are now fully trained and ready to deliver the  wire harnesses that will be used in the Cessna business jet fleet.

"We are celebrating the success of Textron Aerospace Mexico as it has ramped up over the last year," said Cessna Senior Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain, Ron Alberti. "We believe the Textron Aerospace Mexico facility is a positive step toward expanding Cessna's global presence as we continue to ensure Cessna products remain competitive in the world-wide aerospace market."

The Mexican climate must be favorable for the wire business. Bombardier Aerospace and Raytheon Aircraft also have wire harness plants in the country.

The 62,000-square-foot Cessna facility in Chihuahua currently employs 128 people. As the Mexican site reaches full production rates, they expect to hire an additional 200 employees by the end of 2007, the Eagle reports.

The Mexican facility will free up space at Cessna's main plant in Kansas, where the company will have more room to manufacture other aircraft in its lineup.

And that almost certainly includes the Next Generation Piston aircraft... and maybe even cute little LSA prototype we saw at Oshkosh...

FMI: www.cessna.com