Cessna Citation

Cessna Citation
Peter Bakema · GFDL 1.2 · source
Name	Cessna Citation
Type	Business jet
Manufacturer	Cessna
Status	In production

Cessna Citation is a family of light to midsize business jets produced by Cessna and later Textron Aviation. The Citation series includes multiple models developed for corporate transport, air ambulance, law enforcement, and military liaison roles used worldwide by firms such as NetJets, Gulfstream Aerospace customers, and government agencies like the United States Air Force. Citations compete in markets alongside aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer, Dassault Aviation, Honda Aircraft Company, and Pilatus Aircraft.

Development and Design

The Citation program originated at Cessna during an era of expanding corporate aviation needs linked to firms like Hughes Aircraft and General Electric; designers worked with suppliers including Pratt & Whitney and Garrett AiResearch. Early design phases involved aerodynamic studies influenced by concepts from NASA research centers and testing at facilities like the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics legacy labs and the Langley Research Center. Structural engineering drew on materials sourced via Boeing supply chains and avionics integration with systems from Honeywell International and Rockwell Collins. Certification efforts navigated regulations administered by authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, with test campaigns including flights over ranges near Wichita, Kansas and trials coordinated with organizations like FlightSafety International. The design emphasized short-field performance relevant to airports including Teterboro Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Variants and Models

The Citation family expanded through models developed at Cessna's Wichita campus and tested alongside competitor platforms like Learjet and Falcon 20. Notable variants include early business models adopted by corporate fleets of IBM, General Motors, and ExxonMobil, as well as special mission versions procured by the United States Navy, Royal Air Force, and municipal operators in cities such as New York City and Los Angeles. Production runs involved partnerships with subcontractors such as Spirit AeroSystems and component firms including UTC Aerospace Systems and Eaton Corporation. Variants saw engine changes involving manufacturers like Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney Canada, avionics suites from Garmin and Rockwell Collins, and interior completions by firms such as Fokker Services and Gulfstream Interior Services.

Specifications

Typical Citation specifications evolved across models with inputs from agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and airlines like Delta Air Lines that evaluated corporate charter operations. Key specifications—seat counts comparable to aircraft used by companies like FedEx and UPS for feeder operations, range figures relevant to routes between Los Angeles International Airport and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, and performance metrics measured against competitors such as Bombardier Challenger and Embraer Legacy—were published by manufacturers and assessed by journals including FlightGlobal and Aviation Week & Space Technology. Avionics packages referenced standards from RTCA, Inc. and navigation databases maintained by Jeppesen.

Operational History

Citations entered service with operators including flight departments of Siemens, Siemens Healthineers, Boeing, and governmental bodies like the United States Postal Service and state governments represented by offices in Texas and California. The fleet participated in humanitarian missions coordinated with Red Cross affiliates and disaster response efforts alongside agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Deployment patterns were documented in industry analyses by General Aviation Manufacturers Association and showcased at airshows including the Paris Air Show, Farnborough Airshow, and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Military and law enforcement use cases included liaison duties with units from Royal Canadian Air Force and police aviation units in cities such as Toronto.

Operators and Use

Civil operators range from fractional ownership firms like NetJets and Flexjet to corporate flight departments of Apple Inc., Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs. Charter carriers such as Wheels Up and regional business jet operators including VistaJet and XOJET have maintained Citation fleets. Governments and militaries operating variants include the United States Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and municipal agencies in countries like Brazil and India. Air ambulance conversions were performed for customers such as AirMed International and REVA Air Ambulance.

Safety Record and Incidents

The safety history of the Citation family has been examined by investigators from organizations like the National Transportation Safety Board and authorities such as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Accident and incident reports involved operators including corporate flight departments formerly of Enron and charter operators studied by publications like Aviation Safety Network and FlightAware. Safety recommendations referenced manufacturers including Textron Aviation and component suppliers like Hamilton Sundstrand; industry responses included training initiatives by FlightSafety International and regulatory actions from the Federal Aviation Administration. Notable investigations involved cross-agency coordination with entities such as National Transportation Safety Board panels and law enforcement bodies including FBI when incidents intersected with criminal inquiries.

Category:Business jets