Commenters Aren't Buying It... Or, Apparently, The Plane

Criticism of Cessna's choice to build the upcoming SkyCatcher LSA in China has grown steadily since the American planemaker announced its decision in December. The company's VP of Marketing, Tom Aniello, responded to those grumblings in a posting last month on the Cessna SkyCatcher blog... acknowledging the debate many of us have heard around pilot lounges, aviation events, and on the pages of several publications (including ANN.)

Not surprisingly, Aniello defends the decision -- and stresses the Model 162 will be a true-blue Cessna, despite the "Made In China" label.

"Much of the feedback we heard was emotionally charged... However, a great many remarks appeared to be based on incomplete or inaccurate information," Aniello asserts. "We thought you might appreciate some additional insight into Cessna's business decision..."

The rest of the posting lays out the 50-plus-year track record of Shenyang Aircraft Company in producing both complete aircraft, and also components for companies including Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier, and discusses at length the economic forces at work in today's global economy.

Aniello closes with assurances that the SkyCatcher will truly be a Cessna, fully backed by Cessna.

One month later, most of the 213 responses (at this writing) have been from people who aren't buying the company's arguments -- and say they'll never buy a "Chessna," or any other plane assembled in China.

A few, more pragmatic responses acknowledge Cessna's compelling financial reasons for doing so... but still lament the company's decision.

FMI: www.cessnaskycatcher.com/home/124.html