Cessna Aircraft Co. now offers the GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) upgrades for Citation CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, and Encore+ aircraft, as well as certain Citation Excel and XLS aircraft. The modification is available at all Cessna-owned Citation Service Centers.
WAAS gives pilots improved GPS navigation accuracy, allowing for greater access to many airports during difficult weather conditions. WAAS LPV approaches provide minimums similar to ILS approaches, with some LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) procedures having minimums as low as 200 feet.
“This is an opportunity for owners to significantly upgrade their Citation’s avionics capability,” said Stan Younger, vice president of service facilities. “When used properly, it’s an enhancement in both safety and operating capability, and is available exclusively from our Citation Service Centers.”
The WAAS upgrade is certified for installation via service bulletin in CJ1+, CJ2+, and CJ3 models, Younger said, as well as Citation Encore+ aircraft. It also can be fitted in Citation Excel and XLS models equipped with UNS-1Espw Flight Management Systems. A WAAS installation for the Citation Sovereign is expected to be available later this year.
Owners may contact a company-owned Citation Service Center to confirm their avionics suite is WAAS-compatible. Installation takes about 10 days for CJ models, and about two weeks for a Citation Excel or XLS.
