[Avionics Today 06-05-2015] Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation, announced that its Citation Latitude business jet has achieved type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year.
Cessna Citation Latitude. Photo: Cessna
FAA certification follows the aircraft’s first Atlantic crossing and European debut at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in May. The aircraft flew non-stop from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Valencia, Spain in just over 5 hours, demonstrating fuel efficiency that would allow the aircraft to continue to several additional European destinations. The Citation Latitude will continue its global debut schedule throughout the remainder of the year.
The Latitude is entering the market with enhanced performance specifications, including increased range of 2,850 nm at long-range cruise and 2,700 nm at high-speed cruise, as well as improved runway performance of 3,580. It features the use of new automated robotics, monolithic machined structures and ergonomically friendly tooling stations, resulting in greater precision throughout the build process. Through these advancements, customers benefit from increased maintenance intervals and reduced aircraft down times. This, combined with the Latitude’s increased performance, results in up to 20 percent lower operating costs than competing aircraft, according to Cessna.
Among the first customers is NetJets, who has ordered up to 150 Citation Latitude business jets, with initial deliveries beginning in 2016.