Cessna obtains $110m order from Wallan Aviation

Dubai: Cessna Aircraft Company, the world's largest maker of business jets, on Sunday announced a $110 million order from Saudi-based Wallan Aviation, Cessna's authorised sales representative for the Middle East.

The order includes 11 Citation business jets and 14 other single engine aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery over two years from 2008.

"We are seeing considerable interest from a new generation of entrepre-neurial owners," said Sa'ad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation.

Speaking at yesterday's press conference, Trevor Esling, vice-president, international sales, Cessna Aircraft Company, said the company is well placed to meet increased Middle East demand for light and mid-sized aircraft.

"The nine aircraft in our range... fall right in the sweet spot for the Middle East's emerging business leaders," he said.

In other company news, Cessna said its Citation Sovereign business jets have accumulated more than 100,000 hours flying time since the model first entered service in September 2004.

The company also said flight testing is continuing on the Citation X featuring elliptical winglets. Engineers expect higher weight, altitude and temperature limits.

Tests are also ongoing on the company's large cabin concept aircraft with expectations that an announcement will be made in 2008 on whether it will proceed with the programme.

"A large-cabin, long-range business jet seems like a logical extension to the Citation family, but we are being comprehensive in examining the business case for adding this aircraft to the product line," said Joe Hepburn, Cessna's program manager for the aircraft.

In 2006, Cessna delivered 1,239 aircraft and reported revenues of $4.2 billion. Its current backlog exceeds $11.9 billion as of September 30.