First New Owners Expected To Receive Their Airplanes In September

Cessna expects certification soon for the Citation Sovereign+ by the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil to pave the way for the first scheduled deliveries to Brazilian customers during the third quarter of 2014, the company said Tuesday at LBACE.

Following certification in December by the FAA in the United States and in June by the EASA, the Sovereign+ has gained certification in Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Through the second quarter, Cessna has delivered 24 Sovereign+ aircraft.

“The Citation Sovereign+ has already gained attention in Latin America for its short-field performance and its range,” said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Customers in São Paulo or Buenos Aires can reach the whole of South America non-stop, while a large portion of the U.S. is one flight away for customers leaving Manaus or Caracas.

“One of the best attributes of the Sovereign+ for Latin America is its ability to operate from smaller airfields, with a take-off distance of 3,530 feet,” Shortt said.

Featuring winglets and the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306D engines providing 5907 pounds of thrust, the Citation Sovereign+ has a range of 3,188 nautical miles, a top speed of 460 knots and a direct climb to 45,000 feet.

The new cockpit in the Sovereign+ is designed around the Cessna Intrinzic Flight Deck powered by Garmin G5000 avionics. An integrated, workload-reducing auto throttle system streamlines the pilots’ tasks. With Cessna’s Clairity cabin management system and redesigned interior options, the Sovereign+ features the longest and most comfortable cabin in its class with a max seating configuration for up to 12 passengers. The Clairity system allows passengers to remain connected in-flight through the integration of smartphones and tablets, along with an airborne Internet system.

Cessna is offering the Sovereign+ with a unique Sovereign Shield program covering all scheduled maintenance and parts costs for the aircraft’s first five years or 1,500 flight hours, practically eliminating maintenance-related direct operating costs and allowing owners to operate the Citation Sovereign+ for far less than other business jets in the midsize category.

In service since 2004, the Citation Sovereign has reached a fleet of 349 aircraft worldwide and amassed more than 802,000 flight hours.

(Image provided by Cessna)

FMI: www.Cessna.com