Cessna Citation Ascend continues to progress through certification program

Cessna Citation Ascend continues to progress through its certification program and will be equipped with the latest enhancements to the Garmin G5000 avionics suite. This flight deck will provide pilots with significant technological advances when it enters into service, expected to be in 2025. The Ascend program includes two test articles – Prototype and P1 – which have accumulated nearly 600 flight hours through more than 200 flights.

Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president of Global Sales & Flight Operations commented: "Citation business jets are renowned for their superior performance and productivity. Including the Garmin G5000 in the Citation Ascend demonstrates our continued commitment to designing and delivering the best aviation experience for our customers. We can’t wait to see this aircraft deliver to customers.”

The Ascend is designed to bring a new cockpit, improved performance and a luxurious cabin to the midsize business jet market. The aircraft's state-of-the-art avionics, autothrottles, high payload capacity and impressive range offer customers reduced pilot workload and the ability to do more and go farther.

When equipped with the latest Garmin G5000 avionics suite, the Ascend will feature an array of new advanced features and technology from Garmin, including Synthetic Vision Guidance System shown on the primary flight displays, that couples with Synthetic Vision Technology to support approach minima as low as 150 ft (46 m). SVGS provides a continuous, geo-spatially correct depiction of the external scene topography, including obstacles, augmented by the display of the runway.

Expanded SVT capabilities for improved taxiway routing

SVT enhancements include a 3D exocentric view of the SafeTaxi airport environment to aid situational awareness while taxiing. SVT also displays 3D building footprints including hangars, terminals and towers, taxiways, aprons, signs and other markings to help reduce runway incursions by providing guidance while taxiing at airports contained in the SafeTaxi database. The enhancements also support pilot situational awareness by increasing topographical clarity, sharpening water and terrain boundaries, improving obstacle and powerlines display and enhancing runway and airport sign depictions. SVT introduces multiple viewpoints for the first time and integrates with the new Taxiway Routing feature that allows the flight crew to use the touchscreen controller to enter taxi routes, which then provides guidance on the 2D navigational maps or 3D SVT depictions – particularly at large, unfamiliar and complex airports during low visibility conditions.

Enhanced traffic awareness and separation

The Ascend can utilize the standard automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast In capability for Cockpit Display of Traffic Information Assisted Visual Separation. CAVS increases pilots’ traffic awareness and assists pilots in maintaining separation from preceding aircraft equipped with ADS-B out during visual approaches to landing. Runway Occupancy Awareness utilizes Surface Indications and Alert and ADS-B data to provide alerts when attempting a takeoff or landing on an occupied runway.

Advanced connectivity and data exchange

For qualifying regions, the GDL 60 Datalink offers high-bandwidth data exchange and connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and LTE networks. The GDL 60 features the ability to complete automatic wireless database downloads over network connections while the aircraft is powered off. Additionally, enhancements to the optional GDL 69A allow the Garmin G5000 suite to access more SiriusXM Weather products.

Comprehensive display and situational awareness

The G5000 integrated avionics suite features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, Terrain Awareness Warning System, Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System, flight plan information, weather and more, increasing situational awareness for the flight crew. It also includes Synthetic Vision Technology and fully automatic advanced weather radar and ADS-B Out compliance and allows for future growth and expansion through software updates.