Aircraft
Cessna Citation Gen3 Jets Top 1,220 Flight-test Hours
All three Garmin Autoland-equipped jets on track for 2027 service entry
Cessna Citation Gen3 at BACE2026
The three Cessna Citation Gen3 light jets are making steady progress toward their respective FAA certifications, with Textron Aviation hoping to put all three into service next year. © Mariano Rosales

Textron Aviation’s three Cessna Citation Gen3 light jets are advancing toward FAA certification, having logged more than 1,220 combined flight-test hours, the company said Monday at NBAA-BACE 2026. Textron expects all three twinjets to enter service next year.

Each of the Gen3 models features Garmin Emergency Autoland, which can guide the aircraft to a suitable airport and bring it to a full stop if the pilot becomes incapacitated or another emergency arises. According to Textron, the CJ4 Gen3 will become the first light jet to reach the market with the system.

Loading…