A Pacificwings Cessna Grand Caravan sits at Atlanta in 2009. Photo: Andrew Thon - OPShots Contributor
Cessna Aircraft has signed a strategic agreement with the China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA) Company for final assembly, sales and customer support of Cessna Caravans in China for the Chinese market. What does that mean exactly? Cessna wants to make it very clear: Caravans for the Chinese market will continue to be manufactured in Kansas, and then shipped to Shijiazhuang, China, where they will undergo final assembly, interior outfitting and painting before being delivered to Chinese buyers.
“It is important to understand that today’s agreement is a direct result of the overarching agreement signed with AVIC in March. This agreement picks up where that announcement left off,” said Mike Shih, vice president, China Strategy and Business Development for Cessna. “Not only does this continue Cessna’s involvement in the development of general aviation in China, but it also paves the way for aircraft sales to which we would not have otherwise had access.”
