The upcoming Cessna Citation Ascend is the latest in a line of successful business jets. The aircraft was announced in May as an improvement on the existing Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 with further avionics upgrades with the Garmin G5000 system. Textron Aviation, which manufactures the midsize jet, announced that NetJets will be the launch customer for the type when it commences delivery in 2025
1 It has sideways-facing seats
The aircraft is designed to seat nine passengers in its standard configuration and will have a maximum seating capacity of 12. The main cabin seats have optional quilting, footrests, and electrically controlled lumbar support to promote relaxation. They also include a unique push button release feature to manage your seat position, allowing passengers to swivel and move the seat forward and backward effortlessly.
The airplane features two particularly interesting seats that allow passengers to look directly out the window in front of them. The new side-facing seats are designed to accommodate additional passengers or storage, depending on the needs of the flight.
Photo: Textron Aviation
The two seats feature fold-down seat backs, which can operate independently, providing the occupant with additional in-flight accessible storage space or a handy table with cupholders. Customers who purchase their aircraft directly from the manufacturer are even provided the option to select the level of cushion firmness when designing their aircraft interior.
2 Sustainability is at the forefront
The aircraft is designed to be as efficient as possible within its class. The Ascend will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines, which offer fuel efficiency and increased thrust over previous generations of aircraft. As with all Cessna and Beechcraft turbine products manufactured by Textron, the Citation Ascend will be able to run on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
This is available to customers with no modifications needed, allowing operators to embrace the technology from the outset. Customers even have the option to have SAF power their aircraft’s delivery flight and will be able to refuel using SAF wherever available, including at the company’s Wichita Service Center.
The aircraft’s cabin features sustainably sourced interior materials, and the company is committed to “conscious manufacturing.” Textron Aviation utilizes a robust recycling program, industrial wastewater pretreatment plants, and 100% renewable wind electricity to power its Kansas-based facilities as part of this initiative.
3 It can check the weather
The cockpit has been redesigned from the current series while keeping the features that make the Citation jets so easy to fly. One of the incoming enhancements is the integration of a new Garmin advanced weather detection and avoidance technology to help pilots plan better routes to avoid poor weather and turbulence during flight. The cockpit also features “Synthetic vision” to render obstacles like mountains or terrain in the distance, which can be displayed across three 14-inch ultra-high-resolution displays.
Photo: Textron Aviation
The new Cessna’s cockpit also features a voice and data satellite transceiver to allow flight crew to make satellite calls while in the air.
4 Bigger windows for better views
The plane is also getting an upgrade for passengers in the windows and lighting department. The Citation Ascend is being built with all-new cabin windows that are nearly 15% larger than their predecessors. They are designed to offer more natural light with translucent and opaque shade settings, which feature a wireless shade control. There is even an option to add lighted window rings to enhance the cabin’s illumination and mood.
Photo: Textron Aviation
The aircraft will include an “advanced acoustic treatment system” to ensure a calm and peaceful flight. The system is one of the ways the manufacturer is looking to improve customer experience, with the technology receiving positive reviews in the Citation Latitude series of aircraft.
5 The floor is flat
While most airline passengers are used to having a flat cabin floor, the experience is much less common in small and midsize jets. The circular shape of the aircraft means that the highest part is in the center of the aircraft. To give passengers extra standing room, the center aisle is often dropped lower than the seats, which are positioned further up the sidewall to maximize horizontal space.
In developing the aircraft, the company worked with a Customer Advisory Board of owners, pilots, mechanics, and passengers during the design process to help understand what end users are looking for as their ultimate aircraft experience. Christi Tannahill, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Textron Aviation, explained what a difference the requested feature makes:
“The flat floor is a game changer when it comes to comfort. The design gives passengers more room to swivel their seats, stretch their legs and comfortably move around the cabin.”
Photo: Textron Aviation
The plane is designed to allow everyone onboard to stay connected with built-in WiFi and 19 standard USB charging ports throughout the aircraft. This is enough for each crewmember and passenger to access at least one charging port, in addition to the ‘first-in-class” wireless phone charging and three standard universal outlets.
The Ascend is the latest in over 30 Citation models, six of which remain in production: The Citation M2 Gen2, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation XLS Gen2, Citation Latitude, and Citation Longitude.