Cessna Citation Ten Prototype Makes First Flight

webmaster | Business Aviation | 2012/01/21

The Citation Ten prototype made its first flight today. The flight lasted more than two hours and included tests of stability and control, handling qualities, functional operations including the autopilot and autothrottle system, engine operability and avionics before landing at Wichita, Kan. Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) where Cessna’s main manufacturing facility is located.

“It took a significant amount of work by a large number of people to get us to this milestone today and I am happy to report that the aircraft performed exceptionally well and handling characteristics were excellent; just as predicted,” said Michael Voigt, Cessna’s engineering test pilot who flew the Ten prototype. “All systems functioned as expected including the Garmin G5000 avionics system. We are looking forward to a successful flight test program and FAA certification.”

Federal Aviation Administration type certification is on track for mid-2013 with first aircraft deliveries planned for the second half of 2013.

“Our first flight, today, was a great success. We have a great team working on this project and I know they will take this dominant aircraft up a notch,” said Kelly Reich, business leader for the Cessna Citation X and Ten.
The Ten is a mid-size aircraft with updated design and performance, enabling it to get to altitude faster and travel farther than the Citation X (Model 750). First announced at the 2010 NBAA convention, the Citation Ten is designed for greater fuel efficiency and increased comfort for up to nine passengers and two pilots.

Two Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 engines will take a 36,600 pound (16,601 kilogram) MTOW Citation Ten off the ground in 5,150 feet (1,569 meters) and give the aircraft a maximum cruise speed of 527 knots an hour (977 kilometers) and a certified ceiling of 51,000 feet (15,545 meters). The Ten has a maximum range of 3,242 nautical miles (6,008 kilometers), putting city pairings such as New York-London, Boston-San Francisco, London-Dubai and Miami-Seattle within convenient one-hop flights.

The Ten is 15 inches longer than the Citation X, providing extra passenger legroom in the forward club seating area. A new Ten mock-up was debuted at the 2011 NBAA convention with a fresh new interior color scheme, though customers are able to choose the interior stylings that best fit their needs and personality.

Also featuring ClairityTM, Cessna’s proprietary cabin technology solution, the Ten delivers ultimate touch-screen control to the passenger, maximizing the digital entertainment experience from web to movies to moving maps. One convenient panel at each seat provides connections for personal electronic devices.

The Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck is one of the most intuitive pilot-aircraft interfaces ever seen in a business avionics suite. The high-resolution multi-function displays have split-screen capability, allowing continuous monitoring of engine, flight control, hydraulic and electrical systems. Garmin’s SVT synthetic vision technology on the primary flight displays gives the crew a virtual reality view of runways, terrain, traffic and obstacles. Electronic charts with aircraft position overlay provide dynamic situational awareness during approach.

A video highlighting the Citation Ten’s features can be viewed on Cessna’s YouTube channel. Visit our gallery of Citation Ten images.

How to evaluate a fractional jet ownership company

admin | Business Aviation, Fractional Jet | 2012/01/16

How to evaluate a fractional jet ownership company

Whether you’re shopping for a fractional jet for business use or family travel, it’s always good to look before you leap. Before buying into a programme, evaluate the company offering it. The aviation professionals you consult with should be happy to answer your questions and to offer a viable and attractive package to suit your travel requirements.

Here are some key points to consider when investigating a fractional jet ownership programme:

Financial position

The financial strength of the company is very important. You are not only buying an asset, you are also forming a long-term business partnership. A sound financial position is the best way to guard against business failure and to ensure that maintenance, training, service and safety are not compromised, thereby reducing the value of your investment.

Aircraft selection

More is better. The larger a fractional jet programme’s fleet, the more it has to offer and the better it can serve your needs. Here are some questions to ask:

How many planes are in the fleet?
Are planes available in a variety of sizes?
What’s the average age of the planes?
Does the company guarantee aircraft access?
How long is the notification period when requesting a jet?

International travel

With business jets especially, global travel is a prime consideration. Look for a fractional ownership company that provides for global travel and handles it in-house. Safety and service should be the same whether flying domestic or abroad.

Professional experience

The company you are considering should have an excellent track record of safety and service. Some points to consider:

How long has the company been in business?
How many flights are operated annually?
How many destinations are served globally?
What is the company’s safety accreditation?

Safety considerations

How high is the company’s commitment to safety?
Where do pilots receive training, and how reputable is that training?
Does the company employ in-house meteorologists?
Is there a senior supervising pilot available to assist pilots in flight?
How often and where is fleet maintenance performed?
What are the safety records of the planes in the fleet?
Are new additions equipped with state-of-the-art safety systems?
What are the pilot selection and training requirements?
How many training hours do pilots receive annually?
Do the airports served by the programme get audited regularly?

Customer service

More than a factional jet ownership interest, you are also investing in a company that will personally manage your travel arrangements. Consider the following questions:

Does the programme honour its scheduling commitments?
Does it provide ground transportation, security and catering?
How many pilots does the company employ?
Are the facilities state-of-the-art?

Taking an in-depth look at the fractional business jet ownership company you are considering is one way to get the most from your investment. Whether you want business jets, private jets or both, put the same care into your research as you would with any high-end investment.

Learjet announces plan to expand Kansas operations

webmaster | Learjet | 2012/01/11

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and the head of Bombardier Business Air say an expansion of the company’s Learjet site in Wichita will create 450 new jobs over the next seven to 10 years.

Bombardier President Steve Ridolfi and Brownback announced plans Tuesday for an expansion of the company’s Flight Test Center, new facilities for paint and production, and a new delivery center. The expansion also will include establishment of a Bombardier Center of Excellence of Engineering and Information Technology.

The state is providing $16 million in financial support to go along with $600 million the company is spending to develop the Learjet 85 midsize jet and expand Learjet’s Wichita facility.

Last week The Boeing Co. announced it was closing its Wichita facilities at the end of 2013.

EMBRAER ROLLS OUT LEGACY 500 EXECUTIVE JET

webmaster | Business Aviation, Embraer | 2011/12/28

First of three prototypes prepares for the next phase toward certification

São José dos Campos, Brazil, December 26, 2011– Embraer rolled out its newest executive jet, the midsize Legacy 500, last December 23, from the production hangar at the São José dos Campos headquarters, in Brazil. This milestone rollout will allow development and test engineers to perform important ground tests, prior to the aircraft’s first flight, which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.“This is a significant day for the Legacy 500 program,” said Maurício Almeida, Vice President, Programs – Embraer Executive Jets. “Releasing the aircraft from production to the test team will allow us to gather vital information during ground tests, which will be used to shorten the flight test campaign.”Following the rollout, the aircraft will undergo initial systems evaluations leading to the first engine run, and then to the ground vibration tests (GVT), and the full regimen of ground tests. This aircraft is the first of three prototypes that will be used in development, ground, flight and certification testing.

There are more than 800 Embraer engineers supporting these technical efforts. The aircraft will be certified by ANAC (Brazil), FAA (USA), EASA (Europe), and other aviation authorities in key markets throughout the world.

The aircraft is powered by two Honeywell HTF 7500E turbofan engines, each one producing 6,540 pounds of thrust at takeoff. They will allow the aircraft to fly at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82, and to have a range of 5,600 kilometers (3,000 nautical miles) with four passengers. The jet features the advanced Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion® Integrated Flight Deck, as well as a modern full fly-by-wire system with complete flight envelope protection.

The Legacy 500 can accommodate up to 12 passengers in a stand-up cabin with 6-foot (1.82-meter) ceiling and a flat floor. Cabin design and amenities include four berthable (fully flat) seating pairs, a low 6,000-foot cabin altitude, Honeywell’s Ovation® Select Cabin Management System, and internal and external baggage compartments. Premium seats are also available with leg rest, headrest with flexible wings, electrically actuated lumbar support, and massage and heating systems, which are unique to its category.

FINAL GULFSTREAM G200 ROLLS OFF PRODUCTION LINE

webmaster | Business Aviation, Gulfstream | 2011/12/20

250^th Business Jet Set for December Delivery

Capping a 14-year production run, the last super mid-size Gulfstream G200 business jet – the 250^th – has rolled off the production line inDallas. It will be replaced in the Gulfstream fleet by the all-new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280, which is scheduled to enter service in the first part of 2012.

The G200 was the first super mid-size business jet to enter the marketplace. It rolled out in 1997 and was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1998. Seven years ago today, Gulfstream delivered the 100^th G200.

With a cabin width of 7 feet, 2 inches (2.184 m) and a cabin height of 6 feet, 3 inches (1.905 m), the G200 has one of the largest cabins in its class. To date, the aircraft has been certified in 18 countries and has a dispatch reliability rate in excess of 99 percent. The fleet has flown more than 581,000 flight hours and completed more than 351,000 take-offs and landings.

Originally introduced as the “Galaxy” by Galaxy Aerospace (which was acquired by Gulfstream in 2001), the G200 was manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries in Tel Aviv and then flown to Gulfstream’s Mid-Cabin Completions Center in Dallas for interior outfitting and paint. The last G200 is scheduled for customer delivery later this month.

The G200 set the standard for the new super mid-size category and quickly established an important market niche. It became a mainstay aircraft for NetJets and many corporate operators. It also opened new markets for Gulfstream inChina,Braziland elsewhere.

“The G200 took the basic cabin dimensions of a large-cabin aircraft and made them available to a broader market by offering a shortened eight- to 10-place, two-seating-area layout with solid transcontinental U.S. range,” said Stan Dixon, vice president, Mid-Cabin Programs, Gulfstream. “It led the category for its time, as will the G280 going into the future.”

The G280 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The business jet is capable of traveling 3,600 nm (6,667 km) at Mach 0.80 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.85. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet (12,497 m), the G280 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet (13,716 m). Its 3,600-nautical-mile range means the G280 can fly nonstop fromNew YorktoLondonor fromLondontoDubai.

The G280 features an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum takeoff weight, the G280 has a balanced field length of 4,750 feet.

While G200 production has ended, the product support organization will ensure adequate parts, tooling, sustaining engineering and people are available to continue providing Gulfstream’s industry-leading product support for the worldwide G200 fleet.