Flagship Cessna Citation Longitude Enters Service

Textron Aviation Inc. announced the first deliveries of the company’s new flagship Cessna Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet, signaling the start of a new dimension in business travel. The Longitude received FAA type certification on September 21, 2019.

“The newly certified Citation Longitude brings unrivaled technology to the business travel market, for both the passenger and the pilot, offering our customers the most efficient and productive super-midsize jet now in operation,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO. “We are thrilled to now transition this program into service.”

The Longitude features the longest maintenance intervals in its class – 800 hours or 18 months – and is the most cost-effective aircraft in its category.

“The Longitude was designed around maximizing reliability and operational availability for our customers,” said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Global Customer Support. “The Longitude’s industry-leading on-board diagnostics system is backed by Textron Aviation’s team of 3,000 customer service employees. Our expert technicians trained alongside the development of the program and are ready to support our customers wherever they are in the world.”

The clean-sheet design of the Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, including the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck. The comfortable, bespoke interior of the Longitude has class-leading legroom, cabin sound levels that are nearly twice as quiet as the nearest competitor, a low cabin altitude of 5,950 feet and more standard features than all other competitors in this segment.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.