Cessna Aircrafts Citation Latitude midsize business jet has received type inspection authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, and the first production airplane has joined the flight test program. Obtaining type inspection authorization is a significant step toward certification from the FAA. It allows Cessna to begin accumulating flight hours that will apply toward official certification. The Citation Latitude test program has accumulated more than 60 flights and 130 hours to date. The prototype flew for the first time in February.
All systems are performing as expected on the Citation Latitude prototype and first production aircraft, Chris Hearne, vice president of business jets, said in a statement. Were eager to continue the program in this next stage of flight testing. The wing of the second production aircraft has been mated to the fuselage; the aircraft it is expected to join the flight test program this summer. FAA certification is expected in the second quarter of 2015. Cessna developed a new cabin for the Latitude, giving it the widest fuselage of any Citation. It can accommodate up to nine passengers. The jet is projected to be able to reach FL430 in 23 minutes and have a range of 2,500 nautical miles.
