Cessna Aircraft Company, part of the Textron Aviation segment of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), announced today the company has been granted Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification for the Citation XLS+, clearing the way for deliveries in China later this year.
“Bringing the Cessna Citation XLS+ to China means introducing this market to the most successful business jet ever produced,” said Bill Harris, vice president, Sales, Asia and Asia Pacific. “Business owners consistently have chosen the Citation XLS+ more than any other aircraft in the light midsize category for its unparalleled combination of comfort, ease of operation and range of mission capabilities.”
CAAC certification is another step toward beginning operations at Cessna-AVIC Aircraft (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. for final assembly and delivery of Citation XLS+ business jets to customers in China. Much of the work to establish the joint venture entity has been completed, and joint venture business license approval is anticipated from the Ministry of Commerce of China as early as summer 2014.
“As customers in China gain interest in the light jet and midsize categories, Cessna provides enticing advantages as the demonstrated leader in these segments,” said Bill Schultz, senior vice president, Business Development. “It is the right time to have proven products like the Citation XLS+ ready and available for the market. Our relationship with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company Ltd. (CAIGA) is about working together to identify the general aviation needs of the Chinese market and to provide Cessna products and solutions to meet those needs.”
The Citation XLS+, part of the midsize Excel/XLS family, has the largest cabin in its class (nearly 19 feet long with a dropped aisle for 68 inches of height) with seating for up to 12 passengers. It travels as fast as 441 ktas with a range of more than 1,858 nautical miles, departing from runways as short as 3,560 feet.