Cessna CEO to visit Australia
In case you haven’t heard of Jack Pelton, he’s American, and a true-blue GA pilot with over 30 years aviation experience. He has a commercial pilots licence and his own single-engined Cessna, restores antique aircraft in his spare time, is type-rated on several versions of Cessna’s stellar Citation range including the Citation X and Citation Mustang, and also just happens to be the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cessna Aircraft Company.
Naturally Aeromil Executive Chairman Steve Padgett couldn’t wait to tell us Mr Pelton had accepted his invitation to visit Australia in late September to speak at the 2009 Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) Convention at the Hyatt Regency Coolum-Sunshine Coast, meet with Cessna customers, and attend business meetings:
“Acknowledged internationally as an industry leader he is held in high regard for his contributions to aviation professionally and personally, through a distinguished career. He joined Cessna in November 2000 as Vice President Product Engineering, and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2003 and Chairman in 2005.
“In 2008, Cessna delivered 1,301 aircraft, including 467 Citation jets, and reported revenues of about US$5.662 billion. In 2009, under Jack Pelton’s leadership, the Cessna Aircraft Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft.”
Jack Pelton says: “I am very excited to be the first Cessna CEO to come to Australia, a country with a long association with our company. Aviation is not only my job, but my passion as well, so I know I will feel right at home”.
Jack’s leadership at Cessna and in the industry is well recognised. In 2008, he was bestowed one of the industry’s top accolades – the Aviation Week Laurel for Business and General Aviation. Also in 2008, Jack earned the Freedom of Flight award, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s highest honor. In 2007, he received the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Ad Astra Award as the state’s most influential business leader. That’s quite a distinction in Wichita, which is home to other major aviation names including Beechcraft and Learjet.
During his Australian visit (September 27-October 2) Jack will also spend time at the Aeromil Pacific Cessna sales and support facilities at its Bankstown and Sunshine Coast Airport locations, also visiting the new “Cessna Store” in Sydney’s central business district – a bold venture that has brought private pilots and potential business aircraft owners a new awareness of GA aircraft and their role in recreation and business.
Cessna has produced some 192,000 aircraft since its founding in 1927, including more than 5,700 Citations, making it the world’s largest fleet of business jets.
