Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Textron delivers 500th Citation CJ4 as Gen3 nears certification
Textron Aviation has delivered its 500th Cessna Citation CJ4.
The milestone aircraft, a CJ4 Gen2, went to a Philippines-based customer. Textron announced the delivery on 17 August 2026 from its Wichita, Kansas headquarters. The CJ4 has been in continuous production since 2010. Textron currently builds around 30 units per year. The model is the OEM's largest light jet.
The next focus is the CJ4 Gen3. Two test aircraft have accumulated more than 880 flight-test hours. Textron expects FAA type certification for the Gen3 before the end of 2026. The variant keeps the CJ4 airframe and Williams FJ44 engines. It adds Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics, single-pilot certification and Garmin's Emergency Autoland automatic-landing system.
Published maximums for the Gen3 are 2,165 nautical miles of range, 2,200 pounds of payload, up to 11 occupants and 1,040 pounds of baggage. Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Textron Aviation, said the CJ4 'has set the standard in its class for more than a decade'.
The rest of the next-generation Cessna light jet family is in flight test. The M2 Gen3 flew for the first time on 3 June 2026. The CJ3 Gen3 followed on 29 July 2026. Both target 2027 service entry with a shared Garmin flight deck.
For existing CJ4 operators, the Gen3 changes concentrate in the flight deck and safety systems, not the airframe or engines. Buyers who deferred a purchase pending Gen3 availability now have a firmer certification window. Owners of legacy Cessna Citation CJ, CJ2 and CJ3 airframes tracking future upgrades will watch the parallel programmes for similar dates.
Source: Textron Investor Relations, 17 August 2026; Textron Aviation Media Center; Corporate Jet Investor, 18 August 2026.
Also today
Honeywell expands FMS Guided Visual approach list to 120
Honeywell has grown its FMS Guided Visual approach catalogue to 120 procedures. The count comes from an Aviation International News report on 18 August 2026. The procedures, coded as RNAV H, add lateral and vertical FMS guidance to a visual approach. They target airports without a published instrument procedure. No regulatory approval is required, and the profiles can be flown coupled to the autopilot or hand flown. The service reaches operators of Honeywell-equipped business jets, including Gulfstream, Bombardier Global, Dassault Falcon and Embraer platforms. Honeywell doubled the catalogue from 25 to 50 in late 2024 and has kept adding runways since.
Source: Aviation International News, 18 August 2026; Honeywell Aerospace.
Atlantic Aviation rolls out Ascend rewards across US FBO network
Atlantic Aviation has taken its Ascend rewards programme network-wide across US FBOs. The chain operates more than 105 locations in North America. Members earn quarterly rebates worth up to 15 per cent on service fees paid at any Atlantic location. Non-negotiated Jet A pricing is fixed across the network. Membership is free, carries no contract and no points expiration. Rebates accrue for every 100 gallons uplifted per trip, with bonuses at higher uplifts. Chief commercial officer John Redcay described Ascend as a 'long-term investment' in customer value. The network-wide rollout follows an earlier limited launch in 2026. Flight departments should compare Ascend against existing negotiated pricing before enrolling.
Source: Corporate Jet Investor, 18 August 2026; Atlantic Aviation.
