As business aviation travel builds in strength on the heels of the pandemic, Textron Aviation announced on July 13 that its largest family member, the Cessna Citation Longitude, has gained certification under EASA, paving the way for deliveries in the EU.
In a press release, Textron Aviation vice president of sales for EMEA Tom Perry said, “In the second half of last year we saw a substantial increase in super-midsize flight activity across Europe as individuals relied on these products as a transportation solution. The introduction of the Longitude to the European market will fulfill the international travel needs of many of our customers, while providing them peace of mind and convenience for both their business and personal travel.”
With the lowest direct operating costs of any platforms in the super-midsize class, the clean-sheet design Longitude can connect Geneva to Dubai, or Rome to New Delhi, based on a range of 3,500 nm. Perry also noted the jet’s other capabilities. “The Longitude’s versatility has already enabled its utilization in multiple fields, from air ambulance to flight inspections. We have one specially configured aircraft set to be delivered later this year, outfitted with flight inspection equipment to perform critical verification of navigation aids.” Original FAA certification of the model was announced on September 23, 2019.
While the Longitude won’t be making it to EAA AirVenture this year, Textron Aviation will host a display of most of the remainder of its fleet, including a visit from one of the SkyCourier flight test articles, which makes its first public appearance on Monday, July 26, with a flyover scheduled for Tuesday. Other notables debuting at the show include the Beechcraft King Air 360 and the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2. Also anticipated: an update on the Cessna Denali single-engine turboprop program, which has seen significant delays based on schedule slippage of the GE Catalyst powerplant.
