Textron Aviation has announced significant progress in the certification program for the Cessna Citation Ascend, a midsize corporate jet set to debut in 2025. The aircraft will feature cutting-edge enhancements to the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, promising transformative technological advancements for pilots. Designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE), the Citation Ascend is poised to elevate the business jet market.
The certification program has seen substantial testing, with two prototypes—Proto and P1—logging nearly 600 flight hours across more than 200 flights.
“Citation business jets are synonymous with exceptional performance and productivity,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and Global Sales. “With the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, the Citation Ascend reaffirms our dedication to delivering the most advanced aviation solutions for our customers. We’re excited to see this aircraft in action.”
Innovative Features for Performance and Luxury
The Citation Ascend is engineered to combine state-of-the-art avionics, enhanced performance capabilities, and a luxurious cabin tailored to the needs of the midsize corporate jet market. Its avionics suite includes advanced systems like autothrottle, a high payload capacity, and impressive range—features aimed at optimizing pilot workload while extending operational versatility.
Key Garmin G5000 Enhancements
- Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS):
The avionics suite integrates SVGS, which overlays a geospatially accurate depiction of terrain, obstacles, and runway visuals on the primary flight displays. This system enables approaches with a minimum altitude of 150 feet (46 meters), providing unprecedented situational awareness. - Expanded Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT):
- Offers a 3D SafeTaxi® view of airport environments, including terminals, hangars, taxiways, aprons, and signage.
- Enhances topographic clarity and obstacle visualization for safer ground maneuvers.
- Introduces a Taxiway Routing feature, which allows pilots to input routes on touchscreen controllers and receive guidance through 2D maps or SVT’s 3D renderings.
- Improved Traffic Awareness and Separation:
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B): Features such as Assisted Visual Separation (CAVS) and Runway Occupancy Awareness (ROA) ensure better traffic monitoring and separation during landing and takeoff.
- Surface Indications and Alerts (SURF-IA) provide timely alerts for runway safety.
- Advanced Connectivity and Data Management:
- The GDL 60 Datalink supports high-speed connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE, enabling wireless database updates even when the aircraft is powered off.
- Upgrades to the optional GDL 69A expand access to SiriusXM Weather products.
- Enhanced Situational Awareness:
- The G5000 suite includes three horizontally oriented flight displays with split-screen functionality, offering pilots simultaneous access to maps, flight plans, traffic alerts, and weather data.
- Synthetic Vision Technology, Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) further bolster flight safety.
A New Standard for Business Aviation
With its groundbreaking avionics and luxurious cabin, the Cessna Citation Ascend aims to redefine midsize corporate aviation. The integration of the Garmin G5000 suite underscores Textron Aviation’s focus on innovation, safety, and efficiency. As certification progresses, the Ascend is expected to set a new benchmark for operational excellence and passenger comfort in the business jet sector.