Raytheon 2004 Annual Report Download - page 18

“Our number one priority is to ensure that each and every one
of our customers receives the finest quality aircraft and the
best service and support in the industry; they expect and deserve
the best from us, and our employees are totally committed to
delivering on this promise.”
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Raytheon Aircraft Company’s largest commercial customer, NetJets®Inc., the
world’s leading fractional aircraft provider, continued to show confidence in
Hawker business jets and customer support. Following an order for 50 Hawker
400XP light jets and eight Hawker 800XP mid-size jets in late 2003, NetJets
ordered an additional 23 Hawker 800XP and 24 Hawker 400XP jets in 2004,
worth over $300 million. RAC and NetJets also signed long-term maintenance
contracts for NetJets’ Hawker fleets in the United States and Europe. NetJets
Chairman Richard Santulli said, “Raytheon’s commitment to customer
service and quality aircraft were key factors in our decision. NetJets guarantees
aircraft availability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we need a superb
service organization to work with us. Raytheon Aircraft Company does that.”
Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), with 2004 sales of
$2.4 billion, met its financial commitments for a third
consecutive year. Building on a consistent strategy, RAC
set new standards for performance in quality and service,
while introducing important product improvement
projects across its entire product line. Raytheon’s goal of
returning the aircraft business to preeminence in the
industry is on track.
•The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
granted provisional-type certification to RAC’s Hawker®
Horizon®jet in December 2004, following more than
1,800 hours of flight testing. This aircraft is the newest,
most technically advanced super mid-size jet available. It
represents the perfect combination of technology, per-
formance and comfort in its class, offering the cabin and
range advantages of a large business jet, but at the operat-
ing cost ofa mid-size business jet. It is an important
addition to the Hawker jet family.
•As part of RAC’s product upgrade strategy, the
company announced plans to introduce the first fully inte-
grated “glass cockpit” for its legendary Beechcraft®
Bonanza™A36 and Beechcraft Baron®58 aircraft. The
Garmin® G1000 avionics suite offers improved situational
awareness, increased functionality and reduced pilot
workload. Deliveries are anticipated in mid-2005.
•The most successful business aircraft in
general aviation history – the Beechcraft King Air™–
celebrated 40 years of production with a year-long series of
events culminating in the delivery of a 40th Anniversary
“Special Edition” Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft at the
annual National Business Aviation Association convention
in October 2004. The 6,000th Beechcraft King Air, a B200
aircraft, rolled off the production line in December 2004.
•RAC’s Government Business unit introduced
a next-generation trainer at the Farnborough Air Show in
the United Kingdom in July 2004. The Beechcraft T-6B
aircraft, an advanced avionics trainer with light attack
capability, is based on the highly successful Beechcraft
T-6A model. The Beechcraft T-6B aircraft will be marketed
throughout the world and began a worldwide tour in
January 2005.
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Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
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Raytheon Aircraft Company
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