Cessna 162 SkyCatcher ready for delivery, meets ASTM standards

Cessna’s new sport aircraft Cessna 162 SkyCatcher is now ready for deliveries after complying with the terms of ASTM international standards.

Cessna 162 Skycatcher photo

Cessna has received 1000 orders for the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher, and will start deliveries by November-December 2009.

“This is significant not only for Cessna, but for the aviation community as a whole,” said Cessna Chairman, President, and CEO Jack Pelton.

He further said that the Cessna 162 SkyCatchers will serve as a catalyst for increased pilot starts, and change the economics of ownership and operation for “flight schools, aircraft renters, and aircraft owners, and will benefit the entire GA community.”.

The company revealed details about the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher during AirVenture’s week-long show in Oshkosh, Wis.

The Cessna 162 SkyCatcher is a single-engine piston high-wing aircraft that is categorized under Light Sports Aircraft section.

It weighs not more than 1320 pounds with a maximum speed of 120 knots. The aircraft is designed to soar at 118 knots and for not more than 470 nautical miles at a time. The Cessna 162 SkyCatcher will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations.

The Cessna 162 SkyCatcher is equipped with the Continental O-200D 100-hp engine with a fixed-pitch propeller and also uses Garmin G300 avionics. The Gramin G300 incorporates a single split-screen and a multifunction display. The same can be seen as two full screen displays when an option of second screen is used.

Cessna has chosen Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) in Shenyang, China, to integrate the fuselage with the American made avionics and engine. SAC are experts in military and civil aircraft production and assembly.

After being shipped back to America, the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher plane will be reassembled in one of the three regional locations to finalize the delivery status.

Tests like ground vibration testing and instrumented in-flight flutter testing were also conducted that were not required by ASTM. Cessna also conducted tests like the Airframe fatigue test to ensure a durable product for the training environment, even though its not required by ASTM.

Earlier before meeting the ASTM international standards, two test planes had crashed due to problems with one of the spin tests.

Cessna has also launched a Web-based training system that will provide sport and private pilot certificates, which will be available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools. The company developed the website in collaboration with King Schools.

Cessna vice president of propeller aircraft sales John Doman was quoted as saying, by flightglobal,  that he expects flight schools to account for 60 per cent of SkyCatcher deliveries.