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Textron announced that the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 will be getting an update, Garmin Autothrottles, beginning in mid-2025. The upgrade will help to reduce the pilot workload and improve the flyer experience.
The Garmin Autothrottles will improve the Citation M2 Gen2's capabilities by optimizing engine power, simplifying flight management and increasing operational efficiency. The new upgrade will give pilots a smoother experience in the cockpit and a more predictable flight profile. The advanced technology provides pilots with improved control and precision while in flight.
The new technology will be fully integrated with the Citation M2 Gen2's Garmin 3000 avionics system. The autothrottles will streamline operations during all phases of flight, from takeoff to landing. The upgrade will manage aircraft speed, engine performance and power, allowing the jet to climb, descend or maintain altitude. The system will automatically check the engine thrust, and optimize airspeed and fuel efficiency.
The Garmin Autothrottles will also adjust engine power based on factors like altitude, airspeed and aircraft weight. Maintaining control over these parameters ensures a smoother and more comfortable flying experience for the passengers. The upgrade includes features to prevent the exceedance of these conditions and will give an alert to pilots if a deviation occurs.RELATED STORY:Embraer unveils autothrottle feature for Phenom 300E
Textron Aviation President and CEO Ron Draper made the announcement at the Citation Jet Pilots annual convention in Nashville on Friday. Draper also shared with attendees that Textron would be making an additional announcement at the NBAA-BACE convention in Las Vegas, Nevada from Oct. 17-19. On Thursday Embraer announced that its Phenom 300E would also be receiving an update including a new autothrottle feature with the new advanced Prodigy Touch Flight Deck, based on the Garmin 3000 avionics suite.
"Adding Garmin Autothrottles into the Citation M2 Gen2 exemplifies Textron Aviation's ongoing commitment to product investment across our entire product lineup," said Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president of sales andamp; flight operations for Textron. "With its intelligent automation and streamlined operation, the integration of autothrottles in the aircraft provides pilots added precision and efficiency."Textron gives update at CJP on preowned Citation marketMembers of the Textron sales team also discussed the market for preowned Citation aircraft while speaking at CJP on Friday. O'Bannion said that 3.6% of all Citation aircraft assembled within the past 10 years are for sale on the market.Cody Honeyman, Textron's regional sales director for preowned aircraft in the South-Central United States, said there still is healthy demand for Citation jets, commenting that he believes it is a good time for those thinking about upgrading to do so.
He also provided a breakdown of how different Cessna private jet models are performing in the current market.
Honeyman called the market for Citation Mustang aircraft strong, saying 22 of the 472 jets in service, or 4.7%, are up for sale with an average sales price of $1.9 million.
Additionally, he said, about 7.8% of the fleet of Citation M2 and M2 Gen2 aircraft are on the market, and values for the Citation CJ2 and CJ2+ have risen.On the other hand, the market for Citation CJ1 and CJ1+ business jets has been slower, while 4.1% of the Citation CJ3 aircraft are up for sale, or 17 of the 409 can be found in the preowned market. For the Citation CJ3+, Honeyman said, 15 of the 251 in service are listed for sale, nearly 6% of the inventory, but he noted that most of those are under contract for values are jumping. He called the Citation CJ4 market the most stable, with 4.1% of the planes in service being up for sale.