Cessna's Independence Facility Receives Much Needed Biz
Some welcome news for
the folks working at Cessna's Independence (KS) facility was
announced Monday morning. Before an enthusiastic crowd of Cessna
team members, government officials, and aviation representatives,
Cessna Aircraft Company's President and CEO Jack J. Pelton
announced that the company's newest business jet, the Citation
Mustang, will be assembled in Independence.
"This is an important day for Cessna and Kansas," said Pelton.
"Nearly eight years ago we dedicated this facility with the revival
of our new single engine piston aircraft product line."
The Cessna Independence facility sits on a 213-acre site.
Current structures on the property include separate assembly, paint
and delivery facilities that total nearly 400,000 square feet.
Cessna broke ground for its Independence facility on May 19,
1995. Less than 14 months later, on July 3, 1996, Cessna
officially restarted production of its single engine piston
aircraft. Production line flow of the first Cessna piston engine
singles since 1986 commenced on July 10, 1996, and the first
customer delivery, a 172R, took place in January 1997.
Cessna officials
decided to assemble the Mustang at the Independence facility and
manufacture the Mustang wings at their Columbus facility. With over
200 orders already taken, Cessna anticipates Citation Mustang
deliveries to be higher than any other Citation model. When the
Mustang reaches full production, Cessna expects to have increased
its Independence workforce by approximately 500. Currently, Cessna
employs approximately 350 people in Independence.
"The assembly process will be different than the process for
customized business jets built in Wichita," Pelton said. "As we
look to the future, the excess capacity currently in Wichita will
be needed for the ramp up of the CJ3, Sovereign and other new
future products."
"The Independence-based Cessna team has proven that they are up
to the challenge of building the world's newest and best
introductory business jet," Pelton added. "They have made
remarkable manufacturing advancements with Lean and Textron Six
Sigma that have opened up manufacturing space that will now be used
to assemble the Citation Mustang."
Aside from the obvious joy over the Mustang's upcoming
production, Cessna will celebrate another milestone from
Independence. Later this year,, Cessna will celebrate the delivery
of the 5000th single engine piston aircraft since restarting
production. Today, Cessna produces six single engine piston
aircraft at its Independence facility: 172R Skyhawk, 172S Skyhawk
SP, 182T Skylane, Turbo T182T Skylane, 206H Stationair, and T206H
Stationair.