Textron Aviation said its three next-generation Cessna Citation light-jet programmes have accumulated more than 1,220 combined flight-test hours as they progress toward Federal Aviation Administration certification.
The programmes cover the Citation CJ4 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3 and M2 Gen3 aircraft, all of which feature Garmin Emergency Autoland, a system designed to guide an aircraft to a suitable airport and bring it to a complete stop if a pilot becomes incapacitated or another emergency occurs.
The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to be the first light jet to enter the market with the technology, Textron Aviation said.
The CJ4 Gen3 programme has logged nearly 1,100 flight-test hours across two test aircraft, with recent work including hot-weather and electrical-system certification tests.
The CJ3 Gen3 has completed more than 60 flight-test hours and is focusing on landing and braking performance, while the M2 Gen3 has accumulated more than 75 hours.
The M2 Gen3 programme is nearing the start of simulated en-route emergency testing, including airport selection and automated landing procedures that bring the aircraft to a full stop.
