Oregon Public Broadcasting

The state’s unemployment rate released Thursday stands at almost 10 percent.

But Bend just got a bit of good economic news, as central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

The European Aviation Safety Agency announced it has certified the aircraft built at the Cessna factory in Bend.

That means Cessna can now sell the airplane throughout Europe.

Each plane costs more than half-a-million-dollars.

Doug Oliver is a spokesman for Cessna.

Doug Oliver: “This can’t help but be a good omen for the factory in Bend, and the industry in central Oregon.”

European aircraft sales have slowed, just like in the U.S.

But Oliver says Cessna will strongly promote the aircraft in Europe, and if sales do surge, jobs could return to central Oregon.

The Cessna factory has been hit hard by the recession -- more than 250 employees have lost their jobs in the past few months.