Cessna to supply ACI 11 trainer aircraft

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) The 4.2 billion dollar Cessna, a Textron company, has signed an agreement with Aero Club of India (ACI) to deliver 11 trainer aircraft.

Each Cessna 172 plane with glass cockpit can accommodate four people.

''We'll distribute the Skyhawk aircraft among regional flying clubs in the country,'' said ACI's president Satish Sharma.

''As the demand for pilots and instructors is going up, our challenge is to train them in the shortage possible time.'' Capt Sharma said some of the Cessna trainer aircraft will be sent to the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Acedemy.

Mr Roger Whyte, senior vice-president for Cessna's sales and marketing division, said the planes equipped with Gramin G1000 glass panel represent the latest in training technology.

The company produces 13 different types of aircraft. There are nine Citation jets designed for business operations, a turbo-powered Caravan and three single-engine aircraft.

In India, it has supplied business jets to Jindal Steel and Power, A R Airways, Asia Aviation, JWS Steel, Hindalco Industries, Tata Iron and Steel, and MSPL.

There are 47,000 aircraft built and supplied by Cessna in the past 50 years.

UNI