By Skies Magazine | October 13, 2023 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 36 seconds.
Textron Aviation on Oct. 13 announced a new enhancement to the popular Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 jet. Beginning in mid-2025, the aircraft will come standard equipped with Garmin Autothrottle — a feature that will reduce pilot workload and improve the flying experience, the OEM said.
Textron first announced the M2 Gen2 during the 2021 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). Now, the autothrottle announcement comes just days before NBAA-BACE 2023.
Featuring two Williams FJ44 –1AP engines and Garmin G3000 avionics, the Citation M2 Gen2 — designed for single-pilot operations — has a maximum cruise speed of 404 knots and a range of 1,550 nautical miles. The aircraft can operate at airports with runways as short as 3,210 feet, and can climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes. The cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers.
The new autothrottle technology, which integrates seamlessly with the G3000 avionics system, optimizes the aircraft’s engine power, simplifies flight management, and increases overall operating efficiency, according to Textron.
“With its intelligent automation and streamlined operation, the integration of autothrottles in the [M2 Gen2] provides pilots added precision and efficiency,” noted Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation’s senior vice-president of sales and flight operations.
Garmin’s Autothrottle system simplifies operations from takeoff to landing by managing aircraft speed, engine performance, and power to allow the aircraft to climb, descend, or maintain altitude. It has the ability to automatically manage engine thrust — “optimizing airspeed and fuel efficiency” — and adjusts engine power based on altitude, airspeed, and aircraft weight. Further, the system includes safety features to prevent exceedance conditions and provides instant alerts to pilots in case of any deviations.
Textron noted that, with Garmin Autothrottle, pilots can anticipate a higher level of control and accuracy during various phases of flight, resulting in “smoother and more predictable flight profiles,” as well as “a smoother and more comfortable flying experience for passengers.”
O’Bannion told media that the company is “seeing strong demand” for the Citation M2 Gen2, and the decision to add autothrottle was “based upon what our customers are asking for.”
