WICHITA, Kan. (May 18, 2017) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, will debut its new super-midsize Cessna Citation Longitude to the European market at next week’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to the Longitude, the company will showcase many of its class-leading Citation business jets and turboprop platforms.
“We are thrilled to introduce the super-midsize Citation Longitude to the European market this year at EBACE, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the class-leading amenities and capabilities, including the quietest cabin in its class,” said Tom Perry, vice president of Sales, Europe. “With more than 1,700 jets and turboprops based in Europe, Textron Aviation outperforms its competition in delivering aircraft and support to customers throughout the region that further their success.”
The company recently added a fourth jet to its Longitude flight test fleet and expects Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification later this year. Designed for maximum passenger comfort, the 6,482-kilometer range Longitude has the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 1,814m (5,950ft). With seating for up to 12 passengers, a stand-up, flat-floor cabin with a standard double-club configuration and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment, which is fully accessible in flight, the Longitude is poised to revolutionize the super-midsize category.
The company will also display its midsize Cessna Citation Latitude at EBACE. Since entering into service in August of 2015, the nine-passenger business jet has experienced tremendous success with 68 aircraft delivered globally. In 2016, the Latitude secured more worldwide deliveries than any other jet in its class. Now certified to operate at La Mole Airport (St. Tropez, France) and having received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) steep approach certification in March of this year, the Latitude is the ideal platform for European customers.
Additional class-leading Citation jets on display will include the Cessna Citation XLS+, offering customers an unparalleled combination of comfort, ease of operation, range of mission capabilities and favorable operating efficiencies. The Cessna Citation CJ4, Cessna Citation CJ3+, and Cessna Citation M2 also will be on display representing the company’s CJ series, which is the best-selling light jet product line.
With more than 600 turboprops operating in Europe, Textron Aviation continues to lead this segment with its established Beechcraft King Air and Cessna Caravan platforms. The Beechcraft King Air series offers more than five decades of turboprop excellence, and customers in Europe have enjoyed the platform’s superior performance and flexibility. The Beechcraft King Air 250 will be on display at EBACE this year, featuring the Pro Line Fusion avionics system. Also on display will be the Cessna Grand Caravan EX, offering customers proven dependability for nearly any mission.
Textron Aviation is also leveraging its turboprop expertise and input from customers to transform the high-performance single-engine turboprop segment with the upcoming Cessna Denali. This aircraft aims to elevate the pilot, passenger and owner experiences above all other competition in the single-engine turboprop segment with the first FADEC engine, class-leading cabin pressurization and unmatched ownership costs. Development of the Cessna Denali is on track and first flight is expected in 2018.
Beyond the class-leading products on display, Textron Aviation is dedicated to keeping its European customer base flying with company-owned service centers in Doncaster, Düsseldorf, Paris, Prague, Valencia and Zürich. Customers can count on fast, comprehensive support across Europe. In addition to the six company-owned service centers in Europe, Textron Aviation has seven line maintenance stations, more than 50 authorized service facilities and a team of more than 400 employees, comprised of engineers, service technicians, field service representatives and sales representatives. The company’s 11 experienced field service representatives serving Europe offer maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, refurbishments and other specialized services for the entire range of Textron Aviation products. In the last year, the company’s focused investments in Europe have resulted in a fleet of dedicated support aircraft serving the region and a European parts distribution center located in Düsseldorf, Germany, which houses more than 225,000 parts.
About Africair
Africair is the largest Cessna Aircraft Company distributor in the world. As Cessna’s exclusive Authorized Sales Representative for 48 countries in and around Africa, we distribute the entire Cessna product line, from the Cessna single engine piston Skyhawk to the fastest general aviation aircraft in the world, the Citation X+. Cessna has manufactured more general aviation aircraft than any other company, and is recognized as the industry leader in safety, reliability, performance and innovation. In addition to selling new and used Cessna aircraft, we provide spare parts, product support, warranty administration, maintenance and technical support, and training coordination for Cessna aircraft owners and operators.
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. For more than 90 years, the Textron Aviation brands have represented unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership in the industry, offering an unmatched value proposition rooted in the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service organization. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 143 countries. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information, visit txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
