Cessna: Jet Sales Fuel $11B Backlog

ATLANTA (AP) - The head of Textron Inc.'s Cessna Aircraft Co. said Monday
the airplane manufacturer's backlog stands at $11 billion - the most in
eight decades of operation - as business jet orders and deliveries continue
to grow.

Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and CEO of Cessna said in a statement
the company had orders for 2,700 units on its books as of Aug. 31. Half of
those are Citation-model business jets.

So far this year, Cessna has secured orders for 525 business jets, compared
with 496 during all 12 months last year, the company said.

Speaking at an industry conference, Pelton said Cessna plans to deliver 380
business jets this year, up from 307 last year. The company plans to deliver
470 in 2008, he said.

"This extraordinary rate of growth is being driven by strong economies and
corporate profits and a rapidly emerging global marketplace," he said.
"Clearly, our strategy of having the broadest, most comprehensive product
line in the industry is serving us well."

Separately, Cessna said it received an order for 30 Citation X jets from
private jet leasing company XOJET Inc. That order has a list value of more
than $600 million. Cessna also said it secured an order from Japan Aerospace
Corp. for six jets and six propeller planes.