CJ3 Fusion Upgrade Nearing Certification

Rockwell Collins, working with Duncan Aviation, is on pace for certification in the upcoming months for its retrofit of a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion cockpit in the Cessna Citation CJ3. The initial aircraft undergoing the upgrade is on static display this week at NBAA 2016.

The upgrade swaps out the legacy Pro Line 21 avionics with a suite that includes three larger 14.1-inch landscape touchscreen flight displays and capabilities to provide compliance with ADS-B and WAAS LPV. The system also includes synthetic vision system and touch-interactive maps and eliminates the need for flight management system control display units originally installed in the pedestal.

The aircraft made its first flight in late July at Duncan Aviation’s headquarters in Lincoln, Neb. With the launch of the flight-test program, “the finish line is in sight,” said Craig Olson, v-p and general manager of business and regional systems at Rockwell Collins.

Rockwell Collins already has 15 customers for the upgrade, Olson said, adding that early response is stronger than originally anticipated. Rockwell Collins announced the flight deck upgrade a year ago, and Olson said the company decided to develop the retrofit at the request of members from the Citation Jets Pilots owners and pilots group.

Similar to approach of the Fusion upgrade already certified on King Airs, the CJ3 upgrade will replace displays and controls while retaining the existing autopilot and radios.