Cessna shopping for Columbia?

[Dan Luke[_2_]]

From this morning's AVweb:

"Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which has
been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal investors, for
about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give Cessna instant
penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all but surrendered to
Cirrus and the current incarnation of Columbia...Cessna's interest could be an
indication that its high-wing Next Generation Piston project has failed to
strike a chord with dealers and potential owners and it has decided to enter
the low-wing sweepstakes."

Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.

--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

[Kingfish]

"Dan Luke" wrote:
> From this morning's AVweb:
>
> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which has
> been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal investors, for
> about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give Cessna instant
> penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all but surrendered to
> Cirrus and the current incarnation of Columbia...Cessna's interest could be an
> indication that its high-wing Next Generation Piston project has failed to
> strike a chord with dealers and potential owners and it has decided to enter
> the low-wing sweepstakes."
>
> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.
>

Interesting prospect - I wonder if Lancair would be part of the deal
too? I'm sure Cessna would love to have their name on the 330kt
Evolution turboprop as they have nothing like it in their lineup. If
not, I don't think there's any reason why they couldn't continue to
sell the planes still labeled as Columbias.

[C J Campbell[_1_]]

On 2007-09-24 04:22:24 -0700, "Dan Luke" > said:

>
>
> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.

Cessna probably has the resources to provide better support.

Cessna's only problem has been a lack of planes. Another production
facility and a new lineup would make the dealers happy. In return,
Cessna's dealer and service network would probably make Columbia owners
happy.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

[Dan Luke[_2_]]

"C J Campbell" wrote:

> Cessna's dealer and service network would probably make Columbia owners
> happy.

Since buying an in-warranty Cessna, I've found the factory phone support
helpful and easy to access; they even return phone calls.

The Cessna Service Center system is less agreeable. My nearest CSC is a shop
50 miles away in Pensacola, and they are not Cessna experts by their own
admission. Up until last year, they were a Piper dealer. Fortunately, I
don't have to depend on them for avionics warranty work, since there is a
Garmin & Bendix/King dealer at BFM.

--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

[Matt Barrow[_4_]]

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
> From this morning's AVweb:
>
> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which
> has been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal
> investors, for about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give
> Cessna instant penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all
> but surrendered to Cirrus and the current incarnation of
> Columbia...Cessna's interest could be an indication that its high-wing
> Next Generation Piston project has failed to strike a chord with dealers
> and potential owners and it has decided to enter the low-wing
> sweepstakes."
>
> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna
> owners.
>

About the same as BMW/Mercedes owners would have felt if the
Chrysler-Daimler deal had been reversed. Columbia's aircraft have the
quality of workmanship that BMW and Mercedes have long had.

It would be nice to have more service centers, but I'd be afraid the bean
counters would have the upper hand. IOW, the Cessna centers would also take
in Columbias, but whether that would be a "good thing" is questionable.

[Dallas]

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:22:24 -0500, Dan Luke wrote:

> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft,

Wikipedia (for what it's worth) writes that Cessna closed the deal.

Two days later, it was confirmed that Columbia was going to be sold to
Cessna.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Aircraft


--
Dallas

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Dallas wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:22:24 -0500, Dan Luke wrote:
>
>> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft,
>
> Wikipedia (for what it's worth) writes that Cessna closed the deal.
>
> Two days later, it was confirmed that Columbia was going to be sold to
> Cessna.[2]
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Aircraft

For a little better cite.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/bizav/964-full.html#196211

The Columbia news release says the sale to Cessna is contingent on the
bankruptcy court's approval and a final agreement with Cessna. According to
the news release, Cessna has signed a letter of intent to buy certain assets
and assume some of Columbia's debt. Carl Young said that the deal ensures
that existing owners and position holders will be looked after. "The sale of
Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing assets to Cessna offers the best avenue to
maximize value for all of Columbia’s stakeholders and existing and future
customers. Cessna is excited about the prospect of adding the Columbia
products to its product line and will provide additional capabilities,
world-class processes and financial strength to effectively serve existing
Columbia customers and grow the business. Under the agreement reached with
Cessna all product warranty and service issues will continue to be honored
post-acquisition and customers should expect an enhanced customer experience
once the deal closes," Young said.

[Paul kgyy]

> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.
>
> --
> Dan
> T-182T at BFM

Although being supported by Cessna maybe removes some of the exclusive
cachet of being a Columbia owner, for me it would be a major gain to
have an aircraft supported by a company with resources. Columbia has
been under-capitalized, and even if I had the $500K at hand I would
likely not have bought one simply because of the concern about parts
availability down the road since the company appeared not to have
staying power.

[C J Campbell[_1_]]

On 2007-09-24 04:22:24 -0700, "Dan Luke" > said:

> From this morning's AVweb:
>
> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which has
> been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal investors, for
> about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give Cessna instant
> penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all but surrendered to
> Cirrus and the current incarnation of Columbia...Cessna's interest could be an
> indication that its high-wing Next Generation Piston project has failed to
> strike a chord with dealers and potential owners and it has decided to enter
> the low-wing sweepstakes."
>
> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna owners.

I suppose the worst thing that could happen would be that Cessna would
decide that selling 50 copies of a $700,000 airplane a year is not
worth it, shut down the production line, and use the facility for a
distribution center and manufacturing plant for the Cessna NG.

The fact is, the Mustang has hogged all the production capability of
the Independence plant, leaving Cessna completely unable to meet the
demand for piston singles.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

[flyingcoyote]

I thought Columbia was in trouble when they stopped production and treid to
blame Garmin.
"C J Campbell" > wrote in message
news:2007092707415916807-christophercampbell@hotmailcom...
> On 2007-09-24 04:22:24 -0700, "Dan Luke" > said:
>
>> From this morning's AVweb:
>>
>> "Cessna is one of as many as three suitors for Columbia Aircraft, which
>> has
>> been shopped around by the Malaysian government, its principal investors,
>> for
>> about a year. Analysts say acquiring Columbia would give Cessna instant
>> penetration of the luxury touring market that it has all but surrendered
>> to
>> Cirrus and the current incarnation of Columbia...Cessna's interest could
>> be an
>> indication that its high-wing Next Generation Piston project has failed
>> to
>> strike a chord with dealers and potential owners and it has decided to
>> enter
>> the low-wing sweepstakes."
>>
>> Wonder how Columbia owners would feel about being converted to Cessna
>> owners.
>
> I suppose the worst thing that could happen would be that Cessna would
> decide that selling 50 copies of a $700,000 airplane a year is not worth
> it, shut down the production line, and use the facility for a distribution
> center and manufacturing plant for the Cessna NG.
>
> The fact is, the Mustang has hogged all the production capability of the
> Independence plant, leaving Cessna completely unable to meet the demand
> for piston singles.
> --
> Waddling Eagle
> World Famous Flight Instructor
>

[Larry Dighera]

CESSNA GETS COLUMBIA
(http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/bizav/1005-full.html#196671)
As expected, Cessna was the top bidder for Columbia Aircraft,
paying $26.4 million for "select assets" of the bankrupt Bend,
Ore. planemaker. The bankruptcy auction was held Tuesday
afternoon. CEO Jack Pelton said the company will invest money in
the Bend plant, make sure existing owners are looked after and
will keep making the two aircraft models under the name Cessna 350
and Cessna 400. "The Columbia models are a good fit with our
existing product line," Pelton said in a news release

(http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071127006548&newsLang=en).
"We look forward to providing existing Columbia owners with
improved levels of service and support and introducing new
customers to these outstanding aircraft."




http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071127006548&newsLang=en
“We plan to make significant investments in Bend, in people and
operations, to bolster customer satisfaction and business
profitability. We will continue to improve quality, reliability
and performance as we strive to deliver customer value and fulfill
our commitments,” Pelton said.

Once the transaction is completed, which is expected to occur by
December 4, 2007, the Bend operation will take on the Cessna name
and be one of six Cessna manufacturing facilities. Cessna intends
to rename the current Columbia product line to become the Cessna
350 and the Cessna 400. Cessna and its network of authorized
dealers and service centers plan to integrate sales and support of
the former Columbia aircraft, and Cessna Parts Distribution is
expected to become the source for parts. Cessna also intends to
develop direct communications with current owners.