Cessna has changed the certification date for the diesel-powered JT-A Skylane to "undefined" and put the C182T back into production.
Delays to the JT-A are believed to have cost Cessna sales as they removed the avgas version from the market in anticipation of certifying the JT-A. Cessna has not reported a delivery of either Skylane since the third quarter of 2013, only a few months after the JT-A made its maiden flight.
Problems with the turbo on the 227-hp SMA diesel in the JT-A are thought to be behind the development delays.
In a statement sent out last week, Cessna said: "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 C182T are expected to start again in the second half of this year, bolstered by an order from the US Civil Air Patrol for 17 of the type.
The problems with the JT-A will not apply to the Skyhawk version, which is powered by the Continental CD-155 diesel engine.