Cessna’s Latitude Kicks Off Flight-Test Program

Cessna hit another key milestone in its busy development schedule with the first flight of its new Citation Latitude midsize business jet.

The aircraft, which was recently rolled out quietly before employees, flew a little more than three years after Cessna unveiled its first all-new Latitude during the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention, keeping it on schedule for a 2015 certification.

The first flight tested flaps, landing gear, pressurization systems, anti-ice capabilities, stability and control. Flight engineers reported systems performed as expected. The aircraft reached an altitude of 28,000 ft. and flew at speeds of about 200 kt.

The Latitude is one of three all-new aircraft that the company had been at least publicly developing simultaneously, including the recently certified M2 and the super midsized Longitude that will reach market about two years after the Latitude.

It also comes as Cessna has been working to refresh its existing fleets with the recently certified Sovereign+ and the new Citation X that is expected to win certification in the first half of this year.

The Latitude is a clean-sheet design with the widest fuselage of any of the Citations and a flat cabin floor – a feature that is becoming more common with newer designs. The aircraft is designed to reach an altitude of 43,000 ft. in 23 min. Cessna has boosted the range twice since its introduction, and targets 2,500 nm. This boost, Cessna executives say, was “imperative” from its customer base. It also keeps it competitive from a range standpoint with Embraer’s Legacy 450.

The aircraft will also incorporate auto-throttle capabilities and an electronically-operated cabin cooling system. Aircraft development is benefitting from some of the work accomplished on the Sovereign+ and Citation X, particularly the certification of the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, which is Garmin’s first foray into Part 25.

Cessna has not detailed orders for the clean-sheet Latitude, but executives maintain that market receptivity to the aircraft has remained strong. NetJets has placed a firm order for 25 of the aircraft with options for up to 125 more.

Source: Aviation Week