Cessna announces fleet order for three Citation X+ aircraft from long-time customer Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories at NBAA 2016

 Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced it has received an order for three Citation X+ midsize business jets from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) during NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. SEL has owned and operated a fleet of aircraft exclusively comprised of Citation business jets since 1999, purchasing its first Citation X in 2002. The fleet is used to support the travel needs of operations around the globe.

“The X+ provides a total cost of ownership that makes good business sense,” said Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer III, President and Chairman of the Board, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. “I strive to ensure that our employee owners have access to the resources they need to get the job done. The Citation X+ is a business tool that allows us to serve our customers around the world. Over the course of our nearly 20-year relationship with Textron Aviation, we’ve experienced customer service above and beyond our expectations.”

“SEL is a great example of a company that recognizes the importance of business aviation and the profound impact it can have on reaching a global customer base,” said Scott Ernest, President and CEO, Textron Aviation. “We value the long-standing relationship we’ve shared with Ed and his team over the years and look forward to continuing our support of SEL and their mission.”

SEL invents, designs and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability, safety and cost. SEL, a 100 percent employee-owned company that is headquartered in Pullman, Washington, has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers in 148 countries. SEL provides unmatched technical support, customer service and a 10-year worldwide warranty.

About the Citation X+

The Citation X+ has seating for up to 12 passengers, a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, an unmatched maximum speed of Mach 0.935 and a max range of 3,460 nautical miles.

The Citation X+ winglets allow the aircraft to cruise efficiently at higher altitudes and to consume less fuel, as well as improving takeoff and landing performance at higher elevations or on hot days. Powered by two FADEC-controlled Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 turbofan engines, the Citation X+ can fly above most commercial traffic and often above adverse weather at a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet.

The cockpit of the Citation X+ features ergonomic seats designed for transcontinental flights, and a dual-zone temperature control system keeps pilots and passengers comfortable. The flight deck is centered on the Garmin G5000 avionics package with four intuitive, full-color touch-screen controllers and three 14-inch high-resolution displays, as well as fully integrated auto throttles to reduce pilot workload. Standard Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology on the primary flight displays gives the crew a virtual reality view of runways, terrain, traffic and obstacles.

The Citation X+ also features a comfortable cabin built around a proprietary intelligent cabin management and entertainment technology solution integrated with the aircraft's avionics and electrical systems. Each passenger can connect to the cabin entertainment system via their personal electronic devices to control cabin lighting, window shades, temperature and standard high-speed internet. The interior of each new Citation X+ is tailor-made to the customer’s specifications in seating layout, color and material choices and entertainment options.