Cessna Aircraft Company announced an upgrade program for the company’s successful Citation CJ2+ business jet. The new Alpine Edition CJ2+ modification package from Cessna includes the installation of a Garmin G3000 avionics suite—making the jet compliant with Next Generation (NextGen) requirements. In addition to the avionics upgrade, the Alpine Edition CJ2+ features new pressurization and environmental systems, the latest diagnostics systems, and a redesigned cockpit.
“The Alpine Edition CJ2+ is just one more example of Cessna’s continued investment in its products and services,” Matt Wild, Cessna Alpine Edition program manager, says. “With customers responding very positively to Garmin G3000 avionics and its touch control interface, we developed this program centered around putting the G3000 along with other system updates on an existing CJ2+ aircraft. The engineering flight test program is underway, with certification expected this summer and deliveries to start soon after.”
In addition to the Garmin G3000 avionics suite, the Alpine Edition includes increased access to the cockpit with the removal of seven inches from the legacy pedestal, improved turbulence detecting weather radar, TCAS II, advanced Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS), a wireless media server, Garmin integrated cockpit and cabin Iridium phone, and high speed Internet capabilities from Aircell. The Alpine Edition CJ2+ package includes the installation of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) capabilities, bringing the aircraft in compliance with this aspect of NextGen air traffic control requirements. Alpine Edition will also offer exclusive exterior paint schemes and interior packages as optional upgrades.
Cessna is offering the Alpine Edition modification at the company’s U.S. Citation Service Centers. Cessna is collaborating with Duncan Aviation to obtain the necessary Supplemental Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the G3000 component of this new upgrade.