Overview
- Textron confirmed the first production CJ4 Gen3 was rolled out from its Wichita factory as the Gen3 program moves from test articles toward production units.
- The CJ4 Gen3 flight‑test program has logged nearly 1,100 hours across two test aircraft and the three Gen3 models have more than 1,220 combined flight hours as testing continues.
- All three Gen3 models—the CJ4, CJ3 and M2—will be fitted with Garmin Emergency Autoland, a system that can choose an airport, fly an approach and land the airplane after pilot incapacitation.
- Garmin projects Emergency Autoland approval for the Citation Gen3 family in 2027 and Textron has shifted planned entry into service into 2027 while certification work continues on hot‑weather, electrical, braking and simulated emergency tests.
- If certified, the CJ4 Gen3 would offer up to 2,165 nautical miles of range, seating for as many as 11 and a 6,930‑pound useful load, and wider Autoland adoption could change how operators and passengers assess light‑jet safety and single‑pilot risk.