Story ID: 
Cessna Ramps Up On Longitude 
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Cessna expected to debut aircraft in 'not too distant future,' Textron chief says.
Word Count: 174
With development of its midsize Citation Latitude nearing completion, Cessna Aircraft is focusing on ramping up its super-midsize Citation Longitude program. Cessna has been quiet about the program’s progress, but Scott Donnelly, chairman and CEO of Cessna parent Textron, told analysts recently that work really began to accelerate significantly in the latter part of last year and will continue into this year. “Teams are actively working. We think we know what the configuration of the aircraft is based on a lot of work with customers and where we are,” he said.

Cessna launched the 4,000-nm Longitude in May 2012 as a $25.9 million stretched version of the Latitude. The twinjet, which will be the largest in the Citation product line, was originally scheduled for first flight in 2016 and entry into service in 2017.

The company has not updated the schedule or indicated any possible changes in the aircraft, but Donnelly told analysts, “I do think…you will see the debut of the Longitude sometime in the not-too-distant future.”