Cessna puts European customers at heart of service and sales expansion

Cessna puts European customers at heart of service and   sales expansion

WICHITA, Kan., December, 21, 2012 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a   Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the signing of its intent   to acquire Jet Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities   in Zurich, Switzerland, and Düsseldorf, Germany, further expanding Cessna’s   global service center footprint. Both facilities will begin operating as   Cessna Citation Service Centers on January 1, 2013. Jet Aviation will   continue operating its FBO facilities at both locations.

“Germany and Switzerland are strategically located where a majority of   Citations in the region are based and we are enthusiastic about bringing more   service options to our customers in Europe,” said Scott Ernest,   president and CEO at Cessna. “Cessna’s focus on enhanced service offerings,   paired with our investments in new product development, demonstrate our team   is wholly committed to continuing to provide the industry with choices in   innovative solutions for jet ownership and comprehensive services either   through Cessna-owned facilities or via our extensive network of valued   partners.”

The Zurich and Düsseldorf service centers will provide a one-stop shop for   comprehensive repair, maintenance, overhaul, refurbishment and customization   services for Citation business jets and other manufacturer aircraft currently   maintained at these facilities. As Cessna-operated Citation service centers,   the Zurich and Düsseldorf service centers will now offer additional service   programs to customers, including Cessna’s ProAdvantage programs, which enable   customers to level or reduce the costs of maintaining their aircraft, while   significantly increasing its value.

“Jet Aviation’s service facilities in Zurich and Düsseldorf have vast   experience supporting Cessna Citations as premier Cessna Authorized Service   Facilities. Their high-quality operations are a superb fit with the service   philosophy underpinning Cessna’s network of factory-operated service   operations worldwide,” said Joe Hepburn, senior vice president, Customer   Service.

Cessna now has a total of 15 factory-operated Citation Service Centers across   Europe, the United States and Singapore. The company’s global Citation   Service Center network also includes the ServiceDirect initiative, through   which the company operates 22 Mobile Service Units in the United States,   Canada and Europe, and provides further field support through Cessna’s AOG Go   Teams, Air Response Team, HomeService and Temporary Personnel Support.

Additionally, the company announced today plans to expand its European sales   force with the establishment of satellite offices throughout the region.   Aligning with the expansion of Cessna’s service network, as many as 12   additional sales members will be located in recently-acquired Cessna Citation   Service Centers, including Zurich, Düsseldorf, Doncaster and Valencia, as   well as other locations across the Europe, Middle East and Africa   region.