Cessna Aircraft used the NBAA convention as the launch platform for its new Citation Ten, a larger, advanced version of the Citation X.
The announcement also marks the debut of the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, new Rolls-Royce powerplants and a Cessna-exclusive advanced cabin-management system, the manufacturer says.
“The launch of the Citation Ten is an example of our commitment, repeated throughout the recent downturn, to new product development, and it’s a signal that we intend to do what we need to do to maintain a general aviation industry leadership position,” says Jack Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO.
The new aircraft will have its first flight in late 2011, with certification and first delivery in 2013.
The Citation Ten features: a 15-inch longer fuselage than its predecessor; winglets for aerodynamic efficiency; a new electrical system; dual lithium-ion batteries; new avionics; an autothrottle; a redesigned cabin with new interior seats and cabin appointments; and a proprietary, fibre optic-based cabin management system, including the latest interface options for greater in-flight productivity and connectivity.
The aircraft also offers a 211 nautical mile (391km) increase in range at high-speed cruise, a 214lb increase in maximum payload and a faster rate of climb to 45,000ft.
“Further distancing this product from the competition is access to world-class customer service, not only through Cessna’s world-class support group, but also from Garmin and Rolls-Royce, with all three recently lauded in independent customer surveys,” Pelton says.
The Citation Ten will be powered by two new Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 high-flow-fan engines, each rated at 7,034lb of thrust. This gives the jet a 4 percent increase in take-off thrust, a 9 percent gain in climb performance, 7 percent improvement in cruise thrust and an additional 1.4 percent benefit in specific fuel-consumption.
The AE 3007C2 powerplant will be certificated in 2013, ahead of aircraft type certification.
The announcement makes Cessna the first customer for the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, which will be certificated to US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 25 operations (commercial transport aircraft) standards.
“The level of reliability and integration and the ease of use of the G5000 are going to be unprecedented and will give Citation Ten owners a new level of operability,” Pelton says.
The G5000 system features three, 14-inch, liquid-crystal primary and multifunction displays and four touch-screen control panels. Among the standard features of the new system are a pilot-vehicle touch-screen interface, TCAS II with Change 7.1, Synthetic Vision Technology, electronic charts, Garmin’s SafeTaxi, a dual flight-management system with WAAS LPV and RNP 0.3 SAAAR capability, solid-state weather radar with turbulence detection and vertical scan capability,
integrated terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), ADS-B Out and Link 2000+ data link. Options include satellite weather and an ICAO Type 1A flight data recorder.
Gulfstream sees renewed mid-size jet demand
Gulfstream President Joe Lombardo says his company is seeing a revival in demand for mid-size business jets, which was hard-hit by the global economic downturn.
“We’re seeing renewed interest in the mid-cabin planes, even though this segment has suffered more overall in the current market environment,” Lombardo says. “Fortunately, we have been able to proactively manage our business to respond to market realities. This has allowed us to remain financially strong during very tough economic times.”
The company says it will manufacture 97 aircraft this year, including 76 large-cabin models and 21 mid-size aircraft.
“Our large-cabin production rates have remained stable, due, in part, to the strength of faster-growing international regions, mitigating slower growth in the US and Europe,” the Gulfstream chief says. “Additionally, our product-support business is experiencing healthy growth.”
Lombardo adds that the company’s new G650 and G250 aircraft development programmes are on track. The company’s financial strength, combined with the support of parent General Dynamics, has allowed Gulfstream to undertake a “well-planned and quite active” research and development effort.
“As a result, we will have two new products, the G650 and G250, entering the market over the next two years, and we expect a recovering economy to buoy demand for them,” the company president says.
Lombardo adds that emerging markets “are embracing business aviation”.
“They understand the value it provides in enabling them to grow their businesses both domestically and internationally,” he says. “Our challenge is to remain adaptive in order to support a more globalized fleet. That means putting technical assistance and other resources closer to customers.”
The Gulfstream head notes that the proportion of Gulfstream’s fleet based outside the US has grown from 17 percent to 29 percent over the past decade, expanding in number by about 90 percent – to more than 1,900 aircraft.
