Cessna to Shutter Georgia Plant

Benet Wilson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dec 2009

Cessna Aircraft said in an employee memo yesterday that will close its plant in Columbus, Ga., and move the work to plants in Independence, Kan. and Mexico in the next 24 months, blaming the continued economic downturn. The plant handles components and sub-assembly work for the entire range of Cessna aircraft.

In the memo, Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton did note some encouraging economic signs. "Over the past few months, the general economy has exhibited some positive trends: there have been gains in the stock market, the housing market is beginning to stabilize and many economic analysts are forecasting that the economy should begin a slow recovery in 2010," he wrote.

But while these signs are encouraging, they have not been reflected in the general aviation market, which tends to lag the economy by 18 to 24 months, Pelton wrote. Cessna continues to focus on cutting costs, managing inventory and "aligning our manufacturing facilities to meet our lower schedule projections," he added.

READ MORE:    Aviationweek.com