Textron Launches Citation Ascend as Latest Edition of the 560XL Series

By Carmelo Turdo

Textron Aviation recently introduced the newest member of their Citation 560XL series, the Citation Ascend, into service. The Ascend received FAA certification on November 5 after the completion of a three-year, over 1,000 flight hour certification program. The first customer delivery was accomplished on December 30. This jet is more than a tweak or a rebrand. It offers an enhanced flight experience for passengers and crew alike, with customer-driven amenities found on the longer-range Latitude and Longitude. Luxury and efficiency can indeed be engineered into a midsize business jet. (Textron Graphic)

The Citation Ascend takes the 560XL family to new heights with updates within the XL airframe. The latest Pratt & Whitney PW545D engines power the aircraft via a dual-channel FADEC system and autothrottle. Three fourteen-inch, high-resolution Garmin G5000 displays give the two-person crew the flight data they need the way they want it presented. For crew convenience and passenger pre-board comfort, the APU can be operated unattended to provide electric power and air conditioning. The cabin layout provides for a flat floor, sideways adjusting seats, charging stations, wireless adjustable lighting and electronic window shades, a concert hall quality music system and wi-fi service from GoGo. The ideal capacity is four passengers, but the jet can accommodate up to 12 passengers. A large aft cargo hold can accommodate golf clubs and suit bags loaded vertically. 

The Aero Experience coverage of the Citation XL series begins with a look at an aircraft managed by Gateway Jets at St. Louis Downtown Airport. We recently visited with Corey Tomczak, owner and President of Gateway Jets, to get a preview of the new hangar and learn about the Citation XL in his management portfolio. In the photos and video below, Tomczak elaborates on opening the new hangar and shows us the Citation XL, the largest jet currently managed by Gateway Jets. Courtesy services such as food stocks and professional detailing, as shown in the video, are included. Aircraft inspections and preventive maintenance are provided by industry leaders such as West Star Aviation. Other services offered by Gateway Jets include aircraft brokerage, flight crews and aircraft hangar rental.

In September, Textron brought their mockup exhibit to Aero Charter at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Aero Experience toured the display and interviewed John Reimer, Senior Technical Marketing Advisor and Citation series pilot, for this feature story and the video included below. He gave an excellent overview of the Ascend and demonstrated the enhancements to the passenger cabin.

"The Citation Ascend fits right between the CJ4 and the Citation Latitude," Reimer told The Aero Experience. "So, as we leave the Citation Four and grow into the Ascend, we gain a lot of the large jet amenities and features to include auxiliary power unit, a true airstair door, thrust reversers, large baggage compartment, single-point fueling - all those things you'd expect in a large jet."

Learn more about the Citation Ascend from our new video:

The Aero Experience thanks Textron Aviation for exhibiting their Citation Ascend mockup in St. Louis and the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association for sponsoring the event.