Textron Aviation Inc. has announced continued progress across the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3 and M2 Gen3 light jet programs as the company advances its next-generation light jet portfolio toward Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. The Citation CJ4 Gen3 and Citation M2 Gen3 are currently in the flight test phase of development.
All three light jets will feature Garmin Emergency Autoland, designed to provide additional support and confidence for pilots and passengers. The CJ4 Gen3 also features next-generation Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics, providing intuitive control of the flight deck.
Chris Hearne, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Programs, said the flight test milestones achieved by the Citation CJ4 Gen3 and Citation M2 Gen3 reflect the progress being made by Textron Aviation’s teams as the company introduces next-generation capabilities to the Citation light jet lineup. He added that the Gen3 aircraft incorporate customer feedback while providing pilots, owners and passengers with performance, comfort and productivity.
The Citation CJ4 Gen3 program has accumulated more than 880 flight test hours across two test aircraft. Recently completed testing includes Human Factors simulator tests and winglet certification testing covering stalls, handling qualities, and takeoff and landing performance. The aircraft continues toward expected FAA certification this year.
The Citation CJ3 Gen3 program is expected to achieve its first flight soon as it progresses through its certification program toward expected entry into service in 2027.
The Citation M2 Gen3 has completed nearly 20 flight test hours following its recent first flight and is also expected to enter service in 2027. As the program moves through its flight test phase, the team is currently focused on runway centerline tracking and brake tuning for Garmin Emergency Autoland.
