Citation Mustang VLJ Obtains Full Certification

The Cessna Citation Mustang on Friday became the first of a new segment of aircraft known as very light jets (VLJ) to be fully FAA type certified. Its Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F powerplant was FAA certified on the same day. According to Cessna, the type certification (TC) includes approval for the following operations: single-pilot, day, night, IMC and RVSM. Approval for flight into known icing, which Cessna said is not required for the full TC, is expected to be received “in the next couple of weeks,” and before customer deliveries start. Certification of the $2.6 million Mustang occurred as scheduled when the aircraft was announced at the 2002 NBAA Convention. Cessna said it has orders for 250 Mustangs, with the first to be delivered this year, followed by 50 next year and 100 in 2008. Meanwhile, Eclipse Aviation expects full certification “shortly” of the $1.3 million Eclipse 500, announced in early 2000. According to Eclipse, certification will include day/night, VFR/IFR, single-pilot and RVSM operations, though the aircraft’s initial avionics functionality will be limited. Eclipse expects approval for flight into known icing by year-end.