Notes from the NBAA convention (Oct. 10)

LAS VEGAS — Hawker Beechcraft plans to open a new 48,000-square-foot service center in Monterrey, Mexico, in the spring.

It will include a 13,400-square-foot paint hangar, a maintenance hangar, and office and customer hospitality space. Growth of Hawker Beechcraft's customer fleet in Mexico and expanded opportunities in Central America created the need for the facility.

* The Hawker 800XPR has earned European certification, weeks after FAA certification, and deliveries have begun.

* Hawker Beechcraft also announced new interiors for the Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza piston planes, with enhanced styling, an automatic climate control system and an LED external lighting package. The features will be phased into production in the second quarter of 2012.

Cessna

Cessna's Citation Ten, an upgraded Citation X business jet announced at last year's NBAA, is on track for first flight by year end and deliveries in mid-2013, the company said.

Assembly is complete on a prototype, and production line flow has begun. A mock-up of the plane with a new cabin interior will be on display during the National Business Aviation Association show.

* Cessna has a new face in its communications department. Dianne White joined Cessna last week as vice president for public and media relations. White replaces Bob Stangarone, who left Cessna this summer and has joined Embraer.

White most recently was editor of Twin & Turbine magazine. She also has served as senior account manager of the Avion Group and worked in advertising and public relations.

* Don't look for Cessna to bring Skycatcher production back to the U.S.

Building the aircraft in China will help open the market, Cessna CEO Scott Ernest said. Eventually, China will need planes, pilots and training.

* During the convention, Cessna is unveiling a cabin entertainment and connectivity platform called the Clairity system. It provides moving maps and flight information, Internet browsing, seat-to-seat messaging and the ability to play videos, audios and movies.

This story was originally published October 10, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Notes from the NBAA convention (Oct. 10)."