Wichita, KS - October 3, 2005 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today reported that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted type certification to Cessna's Model 525A Citation CJ2+, bringing the aircraft one step closer to customer delivery.
This latest addition to the award-winning Citation family of Cessna business jets, announced in November 2004 at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention, was certified in just over 80 flights and 190 flight hours.
"Receiving certification on the CJ2+ speaks clearly to the very important and ongoing partnership between our customers and our employees," said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna's Chairman, President and CEO. "The CJ2+ has been a very popular model, with more than 60 aircraft on order for customers and first availability for new orders in the summer of 2007. Once again, Cessna team members have brought to bear their expertise and innovation to integrate our customers' feedback and transform the CJ2, an airplane with established excellence, into the CJ2+. We look forward to providing new Citation family members the exceptionally high standards of safety, reliability, quality, comfort, and affordability that have become synonymous with the name Cessna."
The Citation CJ2+ will serve single pilot operators and offers significant enhancements in both performance and specifications. For example, maximum payload for the CJ2+ has been increased by 300 pounds over the CJ2, enabling operation in a weight environment of 'single pilot plus 1,800 pounds.'
Improved payloads, however, are only part of the story. The CJ2+ is made even more attractive by operational enhancements such as the ability to direct climb to 45,000 feet in 34 minutes at maximum takeoff weight; a maximum cruise speed of 413 knots at 31,000 feet; and a four passenger, 1,550 nautical mile NBAA IFR range. Using less runway at maximum weight limits, the CJ2+ can take off in 3,360 feet and land in less than 3,000 feet.
Propulsion for the CJ2+ is generated by twin Williams FJ44-3A-24 engines equipped with dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The FJ44-3A-24 shares architecture similar to that of the Citation CJ3's FJ44-3A engine, but is rated at 2,400 pounds of thrust.
The avionics suite on the Citation CJ2+ is the most advanced available on this class of business jet. The integrated Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite encompasses many of the same features as the Citation CJ3 and CJ1+. The Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and enhanced Multi-Function Display (MFD) are presented on three 8-inch by 10-inch active matrix color liquid crystal displays. The copilot's PFD with second air data computer is standard equipment and will meet reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) requirements. Other integrated avionics features include a file server system with cursor control panel and enhanced map overlays, Pro Line 21 Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) radios, and Collins FMS-3000 with performance database. The CJ2+ is equipped with standard broadcast graphical weather including Next Generation Doppler Radar (NEXRAD) information, Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METARs), and textual Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF).
Optional CJ2+ avionics equipment includes electronic charts showing geo-referenced position on airports, interactive graphical weather, and Honeywell Mark VIII Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS).
In the cabin, new standard items include 110-volt electrical outlets (two in the cabin and one in the cockpit), belted, flushing toilet, left-hand storage, and indirect LED lighting.
In bringing the Citation CJ2+ to market, Cessna has taken 17 of the Citation CJ2's most popular options, added 10 new features not available on the Citation CJ2, and has made them standard. Some of these standard CJ2+ features include a copilot PFD, flight management system (FMS), broadcast weather, SKYWATCH HP Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and the LandMark Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).
Based on unit sales, Cessna is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. In 2004, Cessna delivered more than 900 aircraft and reported revenues of approximately $2.5 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 180,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 4,000 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com. Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron, a $10 billion, multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this report and other oral and written statements made by Textron from time to time are forward-looking statements, including those that discuss strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; or project revenues, income, returns or other financial measures. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including the following: [a] the extent to which Textron is able to achieve savings from its restructuring plans; [b] uncertainty in estimating the amount and timing of restructuring charges and related costs; [c] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact interest and foreign exchange rates; [d] the occurrence of work stoppages and strikes at key facilities of Textron or Textron's customers or suppliers; [e] Textron's ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; [f] the U.S. Government's ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with Textron for the Government's convenience or for Textron's failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, and, under certain circumstances, to suspend or debar Textron as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; [g] changes in national or international funding priorities and government policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; [h] the adequacy of cost estimates for various customer care programs including servicing warranties; [i] the ability to control costs and successful implementation of various cost reduction programs; [j] the timing of certifications of new aircraft products; [k] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which Textron products are sold or supplied or where Textron Financial offers financing; [l] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [m] the impact of changes in tax legislation; [n] the extent to which Textron is able to pass raw material price increases through to customers or offset such price increases by reducing other costs; [o] Textron's ability to offset, through cost reductions, pricing pressure brought by original equipment manufacturer customers; [p] Textron's ability to realize full value of receivables and investments in securities; [q] the availability and cost of insurance; [r] increases in pension expenses related to lower than expected asset performance or changes in discount rates; [s] Textron Financial's ability to maintain portfolio credit quality; [t] Textron Financial's access to debt financing at competitive rates; [u] uncertainty in estimating contingent liabilities and establishing reserves to address such contingencies; [v] performance of acquisitions; and [w] the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products.