As you all know, that promise was broken in January when Cessna said there would be a 6 to 10 month delay because of production changes required by the addition of the dorsal fin. They also said that 150 airplanes would be delivered in 2010, and that a delivery schedule would be published in April.
That was the second time they did not 'deliver' on their promise. So I booked a trip to Sun-n-Fun 2010 in Lakeland to find out the details.
At the show I talked to several Cessna employees and was amazed at their lack of knowledge about the state of deliveries, and how this vacuum of information has damaged their reputation.
It was obvious they had all been given the same instructions - when talking to Skycatcher customers puy put your hand on your chest and with all the sincerity you can muster say how much 'We appreciate your patience', and nothing else.
The one person who deviated from this mantra was Rose Pelton. I spoke to her about my frustration and disappointment with Cessna's handling of the delay, and treatment of their customers. She looked me straight in the eye and said, 'I feel your frustration, because I am a customer too'. Those few words spoken by the presidents favored wife were,...well, an insult.
The only information I could find out was that maybe 8 planes will be delivered to the Sales force (not customers) by Oshkosh.
Also, the root of the production delays I was told stem from significant cultural differences with the Chinese. The Chinese assumed that Cessna would walk away from the project after the 2 spin crashes. So they allowed the factory to focus on other projects. When Cessna decided to continue, the Communist system was unable or unwilling to change directions in a timely manner.
Another reason for the delay is that Cessna wants to test fly every new airplane in China. The factory is at a military airport so the Chinese will not let the civilian Skycatcher aircraft fly. The plane must be crated to another airport, assembled, test flown, disassembled and shipped back to the factory. Then shipped to the U.S. and reassembled, then test flown again. That seems like a lot of opportunity for bending a wing fitting.
So, I seem further away than ever from the delivery of my Skycatcher.
