[Mr. Jeeves]

This one can be laid at the feet of the trial lawyers - liability lawsuits have virtually killed the general aviation industry.

[Willie Green]

Additional info from Forbes/Reuters:

Textron's Cessna to cut 1,200 jobs, furlough 6,000

BOSTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Textron Inc. on Thursday said Cessna Aircraft would cut 1,200 jobs - more than 10 percent of the unit's work force - and place another 6,000 workers on furlough for seven weeks as demand for business jets slumps on weak corporate profits.

Wichita, Kansas-based Cessna, the largest unit at Textron, employs about 11,000 people. Textron said it expects to deliver 180 to 195 jets this year, down from its previous estimate of 220 planes.

Textron said it will cut its profit forecast for this year, but an exact number won't be available until it completes negotiations with a key customer. Textron shares fell 11 percent in late-morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

[RLK]

The economy is where the real war is. When the show is over in Iraq, we are going to be in deep cesspool here.

[CindyDawg]

Life goes on, huh? Sad about the job losses but your daily post still being here is reassuring. Wonder what kind of mischief the senators are up to while our backs are turned? :')

[jae471]

Textron not only builds Cessnas, they also build the engines for Piper.

[CodeToad]

Cessna just recently braged about their 6,000th airplane built recently. Oh, well, so much for company milestones to be proud of. They always seem to have a dark cloud over them. "Thanks, we're rich!"

[Archangelsk]

Crap.

[Amish with an attitude]

Cessna may be seeing the result of new entrants into the small bussiness jet market like:

Sino Swearingen (SJ-31)
Eclipse Aviation (500)
Adam Aircraft (A700)
Safire Aircraft (Safire Jet)

and a new turboprop from Epic Aviation (Epic LT) that's as fast as a Citation II.

[operation clinton cleanup]

``The current economic and geopolitical situation has worsened and is affecting business jet demand much more severely than expected,''

Perhaps the market for those that can afford fractional ownership has peaked....