Cessna/Textron Aviation News

Textron Aviation has celebrated the 15th anniversary since the Citation CJ4 has been Type Certificated. “There is no doubt that pilots around the world consider the Citation CJ4 as the premier single-pilot business jet,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron’s senior v-p for sales and marketing. “We continue to invest in our aircraft to ensure pilots and passengers have the latest technology and comfort in the air. The CJ4 Gen3 brings a new level of confidence and an elevated experience for owners and operators based on customer feedback.”

General aviation leaders and organizations are joining forces to support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift, a national volunteer effort to transport athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. Announced during EAA AirVenture 2025, the initiative is organized by Textron Aviation and endorsed by the Experimental Aircraft Association and GAMA. (AIN)

Driven by our ongoing commitment to train the next generation of the aviation workforce, Textron Aviation is investing in the expansion of WSU Tech’s aviation training programs as the lead contributor to a new facility at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) campus in Wichita, Kansas. The NCAT expansion project will add approximately 85,500 square feet of instructional space and is designed to serve an additional 1,450 students and trainees within its first three years. The facility will feature key training areas including emerging aviation training centers, advanced manufacturing training centers, a professional pilot training center and hangar and a high school Aviation Maintenance Technology Academy. It will also serve as a hub for industry partners to train and upskill their existing workforce, supporting employer readiness across the country. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the new facilities expected to be operational and welcoming students by January 2027.