FlightSafety’s Innovative Cessna Citation Mustang Training Program Taking Shape

LA GUARDIA AIRPORT, New York (May 4, 2006) – FlightSafety International and the Cessna Aircraft Company have made significant progress in the development of a unique and innovative training program for the new Citation Mustang aircraft.

FlightSafety was selected by the Cessna Aircraft Company to provide training for the Citation Mustang in September 2005. The initial program will include two FlightSafety designed and manufactured full flight simulators, two avionics flight training devices, the industry’s first Mentor Services program, distance-learning and a Proficiency Index™.

A team from FlightSafety and the Cessna Aircraft Company has worked together over the past year to develop the unique Proficiency Index™. A number of key indices were established to determine the proficiency of new Mustang aircraft pilots. The results will be used to design custom curriculums for each pilot to help ensure that they receive the quality of training necessary to operate the aircraft safely and to satisfy insurance requirements.

Cessna and FlightSafety have developed the Mentor Services program to provide pilots that have been type rated on the aircraft with the opportunity to fly with FlightSafety Mentor pilots for a period of time before they begin operating the aircraft on their own. It is designed to increase their situational awareness and proficiency in a variety of flight environments.

FlightSafety will offer distance-learning courses over the Internet or via other electronic media for Citation Mustang aircraft operators beginning in January 2007. The first four distance learning courses offered will be High Altitude Training (HAT), Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) and a Garmin 1000 avionics primer course. FlightSafety and Cessna are also working together to develop the Citation Mustang Pilot Training Manual and Cessna Aircraft Operations Manual simultaneously. This collaboration will ensure that Mustang aircraft operators have access to the most accurate and consistent information now and in the future.

The Citation Mustang aircraft simulators are scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2007. The first simulator will be installed at FlightSafety’s Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, Kansas. European operators of the Citation Mustang will have access to the second simulator at FlightSafety’s London Farnborough Training Center. The simulators will be equipped with FlightSafety’s electric motion and control loading technology and advanced high fidelity VITAL visual system.

FlightSafety has been training Cessna aircraft operators since 1969 and has been Cessna’s official factory authorized training organization since 1977.

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier aviation training organization. Over 75,000 pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals train at FlightSafety facilities each year. The company designs and manufactures full flight simulators for civil and military aircraft programs and operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at over 40 training locations.