Cessna has been working for a while now on offering diesel power for its 172 and 182 single-engine aircraft, with certification of the JT-A variants expected maybe last year, then maybe this year, but this week the company said the certification timeline is “undefined,” at least for the 182, and production on the avgas-powered 182T will resume. “The company is committed to offering customers options for their aircraft needs across the Textron Aviation family,” the company said in a statement sent to AVweb on Monday. “While the certification timeline for the Turbo Skylane JT-A program remains undefined, Textron Aviation has resumed production of the avgas powered, normally aspirated Cessna Skylane 182T, powered by the Lycoming IO-540, at the company’s Independence, Kansas, facility.”
Deliveries of the avgas Skylane are expected to begin in the second half of this year, the company said, adding: “Textron Aviation remains committed to innovation within the piston product line and to Jet A technology.” The company has not delivered any gasoline versions of the Skylane since late 2013. Cessna introduced the diesel-powered Skyhawk 172 last year at AirVenture, offering the Continental CD-155 diesel powerplant. At the time, the company said the Turbo Skylane JT-A, which was introduced at AirVenture 2013, would be certified “soon.” The Skylane has been in testing with an SMA diesel engine.
