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Pelton Advocates ‘Doing What is Right’

April 28, 2009, San Francisco, CA – Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. company, yesterday told aviation insurance professionals the key to quality and safety in the general aviation industry is "doing what is right, whether or not it's a mandate."

"What Cessna is most proud of is our focus on the quality of the aircraft we build and the service we provide – a focus that results in safe products and, in the end, better insurance rates for our owners," he said.

Pelton was a keynote speaker at the annual conference of the Aviation Insurance Association (AIA), a not-for-profit association dedicated to expanding the knowledge of and promoting the general welfare of the aviation insurance industry.

Pelton described key strategies to ensuring the quality and safety of Cessna aircraft in the field, including monitoring the operation of the aircraft, proactively addressing any issues, having a service and support network able to maintain the integrity of aircraft and encouraging training among pilots, flight instructors and maintenance personnel.

To capture aircraft field performance, Pelton said, Cessna relies on customer service personnel, field service professionals and an in-house accident investigation team. The company also works closely with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration on all matters including safety and accident investigation.

"Every day we continue to monitor the operation of our current and legacy aircraft to assure our field information is complete, accurate and up-to-date. We are very proud of the field experience and safety record of our aircraft," Pelton said.

The complete speech script is available at www.cessna.com/media_releases/JJP_AIA_Speech_0427.pdf.