Cessna Citation Sovereign Receives European Certification

    Business Editors

    WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2005--Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), today announced that it has received certification for its new mid-size, long range Citation Sovereign business jet from both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). This certification enables the Citation Sovereign to be certified and registered within all 25 European countries adhering to EASA regulations and 10 European countries following JAA regulations. This type certificate is Cessna's first EASA certification and will enable Citation Sovereign operators to obtain European registrations.
    In addition, the Citation Sovereign received the first-ever EASA type certification data sheet for noise.
    "We've collaborated very closely with EASA and JAA to insure that the certification process went smoothly," said Cessna's Senior Vice President of Product Engineering David Brant. "This EASA certification has gone extremely well due to the effort of the European authorities and the Cessna Sovereign team. We are pleased with the excellent relationship that has already been established between Cessna and the European authorities, and we are confident that this will continue to flourish as Cessna pursues other EASA certifications."
    Cessna's Citation Sovereign received FAA type certification in June 2004. The Sovereign is recognized as the newest mid-size aircraft on today's market. It uses simple systems and proven technologies that provide customers with industry leading dispatch reliability. The Sovereign has a 459 knot cruise speed, 2,881 nautical mile still-air range, 3,580 foot takeoff distance, 2,650 foot landing distance at maximum landing weight, and 47,000 foot ceiling. Its fuselage provides the largest cabin and external baggage compartment of any Citation. It will accommodate up to 12 passengers and a crew of two, and 100 cubic feet (or 1,000 pounds) of external baggage.

    Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. Textron is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com or www.cessna.com.

    For additional information or questions about the general aviation industry, contact the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at 202-393-1500 or www.GAMA.aero.

--30--MW/bo*

CONTACT: Cessna Aircraft Company Jessica Myers, 316-517-6488 corpcomm@cessna.textron.com www.cessna.com

KEYWORD: KANSAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AIRLINES TRANSPORTATION AEROSPACE/DEFENSE SOURCE: Textron Inc.

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