Hearne: 'All Systems Are Performing As Expected'

The FAA has granted a Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) certificate for the Citation Latitude,and the first production  has joined the flight test program, Textron announced Tuesday at EBACE.

Textron says the TIA for the Citation Latitude is a significant step toward certification as it allows Cessna to begin accumulating flight hours that will apply toward official certification. More than 60 flights and 130 hours have been flown in the Citation Latitude test program to date. In February, the Citation Latitude prototype flew for the first time and achieved full envelope performance for maximum speed (440 KTAS, 506 mph), Mach speed (0.80) and altitude (45,000 feet) in its third flight. Earlier this month, the first Citation Latitude production unit joined the test program and quickly verified full envelope performance.

“All systems are performing as expected on the Citation Latitude prototype and first production aircraft, and we’re eager to continue the progress in this next stage of flight testing,” said Chris Hearne, vice president, Business Jets. “We have an aggressive certification program that is possible because the Citation Latitude uses proven Cessna technologies and mature systems, and our team has experience bringing new aircraft to the marketplace.”

The wing of the second Citation Latitude production unit has been mated to the fuselage as the aircraft progresses down the assembly line in Wichita, KS. The second production Latitude is expected to join the flight test program this summer, at the same time full assembly line flow begins. FAA type certification for the Citation Latitude is expected in the second quarter of 2015.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.cessna.com