NEW CESSNA 162

Development

Cessna had announced its intentions to study the feasibility of developing and producing an LSA on 6 June 2006. The concept design was unveiled on 24 July 2006 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as the Cessna LSA (also referred to as the Cessna Sport), via a marketing study of

the feasibility of producing an aircraft compliant with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's new Light-Sport Aircraft category.

On 13 October 2006, nine months after launching the program, the concept prototype aircraft, registered N158CS, first flew, departing McConnell Air Force Base for Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport and reaching a speed of 110 knots (200 km/h). Cessna formally launched the Skycatcher program 10 July 2007, following with a press event on 22 July 2007 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh unveiled a full-scale mockup and details about the planned production version. Cessna President Jack Pelton made the announcement:

After conducting extensive market research, it is clear to us there is a great need for this aircraft as we strive to drive down the cost of flying and learning to fly. We believe this aircraft will make a major contribution to stimulating new pilot starts and will encourage already-licensed pilots to continue to fly because it will be more affordable. We have developed a business case that makes sense; we have incorporated several innovative features into the design; and we believe we can deliver the finest aircraft in the category, combined with our extensive customer service, flight training and distribution networks, at an attractive price.

The conforming prototype had its first flight on 8 March 2008 and the first production aircraft flew on 5 May 2008.

In January 2009 Cessna CEO Jack Pelton indicated that testing of the 162 was almost complete and that the aircraft had been assessed beyond the Light Sport Aircraft ASTM requirements, including ground vibration testing and that a full airframe fatigue test program would be carried out on a production aircraft. He stated that deliveries would commence later in 2009.

Pricing and production targets

Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton had originally indicated that Cessna was aiming for a price of under US$100,000 for the aircraft, which Pelton indicated would be a challenge to achieve. At that price point Pelton predicted that Cessna would be able to sell 600 of the aircraft per year.

The 22 July 2007 announcement indicated that these price goals were not met. The first 1000 aircraft ordered were sold for US$109,500. The price has since been increased to US$111,500.

Orders

On 9 August 2007 Cessna Aircraft announced that they had orders for 720 Skycatchers totalling US$75M. By 24 November 2007 Cessna had 850 firm orders and by the end of 2008 the company had confirmed over 1000 orders.

Chinese production controversy

On 27 November 2007 Cessna announced that the Cessna 162 would be made in the People's Republic of China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which is a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), a Chinese government-owned consortium of aircraft manufacturers. By manufacturing the aircraft in China, Cessna reported that it saved US$71,000 in production costs per aircraft produced. A second reason cited for moving production to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation was that Cessna at that time had no plant capacity available in the USA.

The decision to produce the aircraft in China has been controversial and Cessna has received a high degree of negative feedback from Cessna 162 customers and potential customers.

The first aircraft assembled by Shenyang Aircraft in China, is expected to be completed between April and June 2009, with first deliveries to customers expected near the end of 2009.