[Avionics Today 08-07-2015] Cessna Aircraft is now certified to offer Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS) II 7.1 upgrades for early model Cessna Citation business jets. Available at company-owned service centers, this upgrade will allow operators of applicable aircraft to comply with European airspace requirements by the end of 2015.
Beginning Dec. 1, 2015, all aircraft already equipped with TCAS and weighing more than 5,700 kg will be required to have the version 7.1 software upgrade to the TCAS II in order to operate in European airspace. Solutions offered under the new certification are for Citation models CJ2, Citation II/SP, Citation SII, Bravo, V Ultra, Encore, Encore+, Excel, XLS, Citation III, Citation VI, Citation VII, Sovereign and Citation X.
“With the approaching deadline for TCAS compliance in Europe, this certification allows early model Citation operators the ability to upgrade their aircraft directly from the manufacturer,” said Brad Thress, senior vice president of customer service at Cessna. “The upgrades can be completed along with regular maintenance or independently, usually as a simple software change, though some may require new hardware as well.”