Expert Opinion
AIN Blog: Cessna’s Pelton Was General Aviation’s Biggest Fan
In what would turn out to be one of his last appearances as boss of Cessna Aircraft</

In what would turn out to be one of his last appearances as boss of Cessna Aircraft, Jack Pelton gave a roomful of aviation policy leaders a Paul Revere-like warning last month: the Chinese are coming, the Chinese are coming. Textron Inc, Cessna’s parent company, announced on May 2 Pelton’s retirement from Cessna, which becomes effective on June 1.

Almost since the day he was named Cessna CEO in 2003, Pelton’s face began popping up as a spokesman for general aviation, both in public forums and hearings on Capitol Hill. And he was the lone voice of general aviation on the Department of Transportation’s Future of Aviation Advisory Committee last year.