Textron Aviation achieves EASA certification on Cessna Citation XLS Gen2, first European delivery to Porsche imminent

GENEVA (May 24, 2022) – Textron Aviation today announced at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, that it has earned European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification for the Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 business jet. The company is set to make its first European delivery of the XLS Gen2 to Porsche Air Service GmbH of Salzburg, Austria, in the coming weeks. 

The Cessna Citation XLS Gen2, a 560XL series aircraft, is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. 

Photo caption: Textron Aviation celebrates the EASA certification and first European customer for the XLS Gen2. Left to right: Senior Textron Aviation technical marketing advisor Graeme Anderson, Textron Aviation regional sales director Harduin Putrich, first XLS Gen2 European customer Hubert Lindenthaler, account manager and chief pilot of Porsche Air Service Gmbh, Textron Aviation senior vice president of Global Sales and Flight Operations Lannie O'Bannion, and Textron Aviation senior vice president of Customer Service Christi Tannahill.

“Achieving this milestone delivery with Porsche Air Service - a company that embodies innovative engineering and design, high-end craftsmanship, a legendary heritage and a reputation for high-performance product investments – demonstrates how perfectly aligned the features, quality and performance of the XLS Gen2 are with the priorities of our customers,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations for Textron Aviation. “This will pave the way for deliveries of the XLS Gen2 throughout Europe.”

The Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 will support Porsche Air Service for its charter services mission throughout Europe as the company continues its five-decade history with Citations. Its fleet includes a Cessna Citation XLS+ and now the new Citation XLS Gen2. This is the 22nd Citation aircraft flown by Porsche Air Service.

“The XLS Gen2 will provide our passengers with total comfort and a top-notch flight experience,” said Hubert Lindenthaler, account manager and chief pilot of Porsche Air Service GmbH. “With the addition of the XLS Gen2 to our fleet, we will continue to deliver exceptional aircraft charter services throughout Europe.”

With more than 1,000 Citation 560XLs delivered throughout the past 25 years, business owners, fractional owners and charter operators have consistently chosen the 560XL series more than any other aircraft in the light midsize category.

Textron Aviation first unveiled plans for the Citation XLS Gen2 during the October 2021 National Business Aviation Association - Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, representing Textron Aviation’s continuing commitment to enhance and redesign aircraft around customer needs. Shaped by extensive customer feedback, the upgrades focus on technology and design.

Among the Citation XLS Gen2 updates are a new lighted airstair door to elevate the aircraft’s ramp presence, the addition of an entry curtain for inclement weather protection on the ground and improved cabin acoustics in flight, and improved natural lighting and elegant styling and materials throughout the interior. A new pedestal seat design enhances passenger comfort with individual controls, new styling and optional quilting, while the forward couch features an optional fold-down capability, which allows passengers to access more baggage in flight.

In addition to these modern design elements, the XLS Gen2 also features a state-of-the-art intuitive wireless cabin management system with a touchscreen moving map monitor, wireless charging, USB charging ports at each cabin seat and optional Bongiovi Immersive speaker-less sound system.

The Citation XLS Gen2 equips operators with speeds of up to 441 knots (817 kilometers/ hour) with a maximum range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,889 kilometers), a takeoff field length of 3,600  feet (1,097 meters) and climbs to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters) in 30 minutes. While maintaining key performance specifications, the XLS Gen2 also includes increased payload capabilities and meets Stage 5 maximum noise level requirements.

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About Textron Aviation

We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

For more information, visit www.txtav.com  |  www.defense.txtav.com  |  www.scorpionjet.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers’ ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.