SAA News Release

 

CAV Aerospace, Yingling Aviation, Cessna, Garmin team to upgrade FedEx Express Caravan fleet

 

Wichita, Kan., (October 13, 2010)- CAV Aerospace, Inc, headquartered at the Salina Aviation Service Center, in partnership Cessna announced today they will be supporting Wichita-based Yingling Aviation as that company enters into a contract with FedEx Express to upgrade their fleet of approximately 250 Cessna 208 Caravan cargo aircraft with CAV's TKS Ice Protection System.    

 

(from left) Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers, A.A.E., Yingling Aviation President Lynn Nichols, and CAV Aerospace President Kevin Hawley.

Yingling will install the Garmin G600 avionics suite on the aircraft as well.

 

Yingling expects to install CAV's TKS Ice Protection System and Garmin G600 avionics suite at a ramp up rate of 50 aircraft per year.  Cessna and Garmin will provide technical support.  Yingling said it would add 15 to 30 employees to its work force in Wichita for the contract.  No details on contract value were released.  

 

"I applaud the creativity and cooperation that these companies have demonstrated in collaborating on this important piece of business," said Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson.  "It's especially gratifying because four Kansas-based firms have come together to create jobs and generate some very good news in one of our state's signature industries-aviation.  Because it's a multi-year agreement that offers ongoing opportunities, it sets a tone for recovery, as well."

 

With more than 1,200 Caravan aircraft in operation today, it is anticipated that this development will lead to after-market installation of deicing systems on other operator aircraft beyond FedEx Express.  Modification on those aircraft will be performed at CAV Aerospace's North American headquarters in Salina.   

 

"We're starting to see some signs of turnaround in the retrofit business and certainly this program is a good opportunity to get it out to the world," said CAV Aerospace President Kevin Hawley. 

 

With a company like FedEx on board in the initial stage retrofitting their fleet of aircraft, it is expected that other companies will follow on their heels.

 

"FedEx does their homework very well," Hawley said.  "That's a pretty strong statement right there.  We believe it will put more people over the edge in retrofitting their Caravans.  As things start solidifying a little bit more and we get more Caravans in- that means more people at work at CAV."

 

 

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CAV Aerospace

CAV delivers TKS™ ice protection systems to aircraft manufacturers and provides retrofit installations to after-market aircraft customers.  CAV's customer base includes more than 6,000 aircraft owners with advanced ice protection. CAV is headquartered in North America at the SLN Aviation Service Center on the Salina Airport in Kansas. CAV's proven TKS system works by exuding a measured amount of glycol-based ice protection fluid through precision laser-drilled microscopic holes in wing leading edges fashioned of titanium, along with a dispersion mechanism for propellers.  CAV can be reached at (785) 493-0946 or www.weepingwings.com.

 

FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $33 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members to remain "absolutely,

positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the

needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit http://news.fedex.com.

 

Yingling Aviation

Yingling Aviation has been affiliated with Cessna Aircraft Company longer than any other authorized affiliate, having been named the first Cessna dealer established in 1946.  Its approximately 100 Wichita-based employees are dedicated to serving customers. A full general aviation services provider at Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas, Yingling is also a Cessna and McCauley Propeller Authorized Service Center specializing in servicing Cessna turboprop, jet and piston aircraft.  It is also the largest independent Cessna parts supplier in the world.  It provides comprehensive support to the full range of new and legacy Cessna aircraft, offering the experience and expertise of trained, top-notch FlightSafety trained technicians, proximity to the factory, and familiarity with local vendors.   Cessna selected Yingling as the Cessna SkyCatcher reassembly facility in 2009.  In addition, Yingling provides avionics, interiors and a variety of aircraft sales, charter, Cessna Pilot Center flight training and management services, Yingling Aviation can be reached by calling (316) 943-3246 or on the web at

www.yinglingaviation.com.

 

Cessna

Cessna, a Textron (NYSE: TXT) company, is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at

www.cessna.com.

 

Garmin

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications - most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin's products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200.  Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

 

 

 

Salina Airport Authority  Executive Director 

 

Tim Rogers, A.A.E.

email: 

 

Salina Airport Authority Manager of Public Affairs & Communications 

 

Melissa L. McCoy      

e-mail:

 

 

 

 

Salina Airport Authority | 3237 Arnold Ave. | Salina | KS | 67401