Significant Sales of Cessna Citations
As Sovereign Development Proceeds

Cessna's new Sovereign, when it does take flight early next year, will be well along toward its late-2003 certification.

Few business jet lines have been more successful than Cessna's Citation, which currently includes the CJ1, CJ2, Bravo, Encore, Excel, Sovereign and Citation X.

Key sales milestones continue to be reached. Earlier this year Cessna delivered its 400th 525 model (Citations CJ1 and CJ2) and 3,400th aircraft in the Citation line.

The latest Citation, the Sovereign, continues to take shape as it undergoes numerous development and certification activities.

"The Sovereign's Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C engine recently completed the flying test bed phase in Canada," program manager Brad Thress said. "We chose to do the engine test bed flying at Pratt, rather than at Cessna, because the engine has already been certified."

Other Sovereign testing currently in progress includes the fatigue article test, hot and cold weather testing of environmental systems, cyclic fatigue testing of landing gear, wheel and brake testing, and baggage heat testing. All Sovereign testing will be conducted at earlier stages of the aircraft's development than on previous Citation models, according to company officials.

The midsize Citation Sovereign will have a 2,500 nmi range with NBAA IFR reserves carrying eight passengers, and the ability to fly coast-to-coast. First flight is scheduled for first quarter of 2002 with FAA certification in late 2003. Customer deliveries are expected to begin early in 2004.

The following updates the current Citation line:

CJ1: Introduced at the 1998 NBAA convention as the successor to the original CitationJet, the CJ1 features a 200-pound increase in gross weight and Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. Integration of the Pro Line 21 system in the CJ1 marked the first corporate aviation application of the new Collins avionics package.

CJ2: Also introduced at the 1998 NBAA show, Cessna has delivered approximately 25 CJ2s. It is powered by two Williams FJ44-2C turbofans, each delivering 2,400-pounds-thrust at takeoff. The CJ2 is also equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics.

Bravo: Certified in 1997, more than 160 Bravos have been placed into service. Pratt & Whitney Canada PW530A engines provide cruise speeds up to 403 KTAS. The Bravo cruises at altitudes up to 45,000 feet, and features trailing-link landing gear and Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics.

Encore: An improved Ultra, the Encore optimizes the aerodynamic design of the Model 560 and incorporates several improvements to increase performance and passenger comfort. Major enhancements include: more fuel-efficient engines, trailing-link landing gear, bleed-air anti-ice for wing leading edges, increased full fuel payload, improved systems, 14-inch wingtip extensions to enhance performance, updated interior, and overall improved maintainability. The standard avionics package is the Honeywell Primus 1000 and AlliedSignal (Global) GNS-XL flight management system. Some 30 Encores have been delivered.

Excel: The Excel features a stand-up cabin, trailing-link landing gear for smoother touchdown and taxi, single point refueling, and is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada's efficient PW545A engines. Since first customer delivery in 1998, over 170 Excels have reached operators.

Citation X: Cessna is in the midst of a major upgrade, announced late last year, which will increase gross weight and engine thrust, as well as providing a substantially expanded standard equipment list. The changes to the Citation X are effective on all aircraft delivered after January 1, 2002, beginning with serial number 173. Maximum takeoff weight will be increased by 400 pounds, to 36,100 pounds, providing an increase in passenger capacity at full fuel payload. Citation X operators will be able to carry up to seven passengers with full fuel in a typically equipped airplane.

Cessna will also introduce a five percent thrust increase in the Rolls-Royce AE 3007C-1 engines, which will reduce required takeoff field lengths, thereby opening up additional airports to Citation X operators. Takeoff power will go from 6,442-pounds-thrust to 6,764-pounds-thrust per side.

Optional equipment that will become standard on the 2002 Citation X includes: Honeywell's TCAS and EGPWS, Litton locator beacon, Teledyne angle-of-attack indicator/indexer, tail flood lights, red strobe lights, pulse-lights, a 76-cubic-foot oxygen bottle, a lighted chart holder, SATCOM antenna provisions, a cockpit voice recorder, VHF AFIS, and provisions for both a flight data recorder and second high frequency transceiver. More than 150 Citation Xs are now in service.

-Barry Rosenberg