Textron’s Cessna Citation Ascend is continuing to progress through its certification programme and will be equipped with the latest enhancements to the Garmin G5000 avionics suite. This flight deck will provide pilots with significant technological advances when it enters into service, expected to be in 2025.

The Ascend programme includes two test articles, Prototype (Proto) and P1, which have accumulated nearly 600 flight hours through more than 200 flights.

“Citation business jets are renowned for their superior performance and productivity,” says Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president of global sales and flight operations. “Including the Garmin G5000 in the Citation Ascend demonstrates our continued commitment to designing and delivering the best aviation experience for our customers. We can’t wait to see this aircraft deliver to customers.”

The Ascend is designed to bring a new cockpit, improved performance and a luxurious cabin to the midsize business jet market. The aircraft’s avionics, autothrottles, high payload capacity and impressive range offer customers reduced pilot workload and the ability to do more and go farther.

When equipped with the latest Garmin G5000 avionics suite, the Ascend will feature an array of new advanced features and technology from Garmin, including Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS) shown on the primary flight displays, that couples with Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) to support approach minima as low as 150ft (46m). SVGS provides a continuous, geo-spatially correct depiction of the external scene topography, including obstacles, augmented by the display of the runway.

SVT enhancements include a 3D exocentric view of the SafeTaxi airport environment to aid situational awareness while taxiing. SVT also displays 3D building footprints including hangars, terminals and towers, taxiways, aprons, signs and other markings to help reduce runway incursions by providing guidance while taxiing at airports contained in the SafeTaxi database. The enhancements also support pilot situational awareness by increasing topographical clarity, sharpening water and terrain boundaries, improving obstacle and powerlines display and enhancing runway and airport sign depictions. SVT introduces multiple viewpoints for the first time and integrates with the new Taxiway Routing feature that allows the flight crew to use the touchscreen controller to enter taxi routes, which then provides guidance on the 2D navigational maps or 3D SVT depictions, particularly at large, unfamiliar and complex airports during low visibility conditions.

The Ascend can utilise the standard ADS-B In capability for Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) Assisted Visual Separation (CAVS). CAVS increases pilots’ traffic awareness and assists pilots in maintaining separation from preceding aircraft equipped with ADS-B out during visual approaches to landing. Runway Occupancy Awareness (ROA) utilises Surface Indications and Alert (SURF-IA) and ADS-B data to provide alerts when attempting a take off or landing on an occupied runway.

For qualifying regions, the GDL 60 Datalink offers high-bandwidth data exchange and connectivity options, including Bluetooth, wi-fi and LTE networks. The GDL 60 features the ability to complete automatic wireless database downloads over network connections while the aircraft is powered off. Additionally, enhancements to the optional GDL 69A allow the Garmin G5000 suite to access more SiriusXM Weather products.

The G5000 integrated avionics suite features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), flight plan information, weather and more, increasing situational awareness for the flight crew. It also includes Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and fully automatic advanced weather radar and ADS-B Out compliance and allows for future growth and expansion through software updates.

Textron Aviation announced in May that the best-selling Cessna Citation Latitude and flagship Citation Longitude would also include these Garmin G5000 avionics suite enhancements.

With sleek and modern features, customers will enjoy many of the luxuries found in the bestselling Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude, including a flat floor to provide generous legroom and flexibility for passengers. The aircraft will offer PW545D engines designed to deliver fuel efficiency and increased thrust, as well as Garmin G5000 avionics. The Ascend also features a Honeywell RE100 [XL] auxiliary power unit (APU) approved for unattended operations.

With 19 standard USB charging ports and three universal outlets throughout the aircraft, all crew and passengers will enjoy access to at least one charging port. The aircraft has a standard seating configuration of nine passengers.