Posted on 10/22/2013 4:26:49 PM PDT by taildragger
Cessna CEO Scott Ernest told aviation media at NBAA 2013 in Las Vegas the company's made-in-China S-LSA Skycatcher has "no future" but he didn't have much to say about it other than that.
(Excerpt) Read more at avweb.com ...
Regarding the diesel TurboSkylane, Noah said the company was continuing with the program, but offered few more details other than that the project had Cessna's support. Asked specifically about the SkyCatcher, Noah said the company had sold about 20 of the aircraft and has an inventory of more that are available for sale. Ernest's comments after his presentation categorized the SkyCatcher program simply. "That program didn't have a business model that worked," he said. Business models that appear to be working for Cessna include those for the company's line of business jets. Still in development, the Cessna Latitude is on track for first flight early next year. The new Citation X could be certified as early as March of 2014, boasting a top speed of .935 Mach and regaining the title of fastest production business jet. And regarding the recently announced Scorpion Jet tandem seat military offering, Ernest said it will fly this year, "sooner to this date than the end of the year."
Rules.
The SkyCatcher was made in China, and it's O-200 engine parent company was also bought by the Chinese. Both did not sit well with Gen-Av types...
? Did I do it wrong, please fix if you are a Mod...
Ahhhhhhh....!!
Muuuch better, thank you.
Gun, women and planes right? Thanks again.
Aviation list ping.
Continental engines aren’t bad. I had one in a C-150.
No, I don’t disagree, but to be bought by the Chinese pi$$ed a lot of people off...
Ahhhhhhh....!!
Ahhhhhhh....so.
Well yeah, but we're going to see a lot more companies bought by the Chinese before O is out of office. The two things I want to be "Made in America" and NOT in China, my food and my aircraft engine. :-)
Please ping me to aviation and aerospace articles. Thank you.
If you want added to or removed from this ping list, please contact EveningStar or Paleo Conservative.
” “That program didn’t have a business model that worked,” he said.”
No kidding! An “inexpensive” airplane became $150,000. I can buy all kinds of good airplanes with better characteristics for less money.
The idea was capitalize on the “Light Sport Aircraft” (LSA) market. That market wanted airplanes in the $25,000 to $65,000 price range at most.
An LSA is an airplane that weights no more than about half of what other airplanes weight, have weaker engines, and only require a Sport class license that allows a pilot to fly at his local airport during the daytime and only require about half the regular pilot training and use a driver’s license as the medical certificate instead of an FAA Medical Examiner performing a flight physical.
It was really about medically unqualified pilots, and people desiring to be pilots but medically unfit, that just wanted to get into the air. Some say it was about reducing costs for people only wanting to fly some. For some people that was true. The airplane market really does want to cut costs, but some used the opportunity to try to cheat the system.
Looks like a POS. Made in China General Aviation Aircraft for US consumption? I’ll pass.
Cirrus seems to be doing pretty well - also Chinese owned but manufactured in the US.
Amplify this comment, please. I believe I understand what you want to say, but do not want to assume anything.
Which "opportunity"?
"Cheat" in what way?
Reminds me of the Tata they make in India. And the “Smart Car.” All deathtraps waiting to happen.
“Continental engines aren’t bad. I had one in a C-150.”
____________________________________________________
I had one in my C-172, but I traded up to a Beech Bonanza.
That was in the good old days of my youth, back in Tennessee.
“Cheat” in what way?”
An FAA medical is very simple: No heart conditions, good eye sight, good hearing, and few other key ingredients that are not hard to achieve, like not be on certain medications. Under the Sport license using the driver’s license there are no changes to the requirements. Same list.
So, if the two licenses have the same medical requirements, then why does one have an FAA medical certificate required and the other does not?
Simple. People that cannot get an FAA medical and know they have a disqualifying medical condition fly under the Sport regulations illegally. I personally can name a number of them. One guy had cataracts so bad he could barely drive. We had to turn him in but he had been flying for several years before that. One guy had a heart attack. Didn’t tell the FAA then moved to Sport where he didn’t have to. Other guys don’t want to complete the requirements to get a pilot’s license because of the medical issue but then fly at night or more than 25 miles from their home airport without the instructor certifications.
It’s all about rigging the system to cheat the medical.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.