The recent Transport Canada (TC) Type Certification of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW306D1 turbofan engine sets the stage for the entry into service of Cessna’s newest business jet, the Citation Latitude, which can transport up to nine passengers 2,700 nautical miles (4,630 kilometres) and reach a flight level of 43,000 feet (13,106 metres) in just 24 minutes.
The PW306D1, flat-rated at 5,907 pounds of thrust, received the TC Type Certificate shortly before Christmas, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is expected in the first quarter of 2015. Cessna, a long-standing customer of P&WC, announced the selection of the PW306D1 for the Citation Latitude at the 2011 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The aircraft made its public debut in October 2014 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Florida, and at the time was one of four jets flying in Cessna’s certification flight test program. The Citation Latitude features an all-new fuselage, the widest of any Citation jet, a flat cabin floor, six feet (1.83 metres) of cabin height and Garmin G5000 avionics. Its two FADEC-equipped PW306D1 engines offer full integration with the aircraft avionics, including auto-throttle capability.
The PW300 family of engines powers more mid-sized jets than any other turbofan in the world. It comprises four engine series and nine models, ranging from 4,700 to 8,000 pounds of thrust, with the more than 4,072 engines produced having accumulated over 12.15 million flight hours.
