New 2,165-mile CJ4 private jet adds emergency autoland tech to protect solo aviators

Textron Aviation has delivered its 500th Citation CJ4-series business jet, marking a major production milestone for the light aircraft family. The milestone comes as Textron prepares the next version of the aircraft for entry into service. The company expects the Citation CJ4 Gen3 to receive Federal Aviation Administration certification later this year. Textron delivered the 500th aircraft, a Citation CJ4 Gen2, to a customer in the Philippines. The handover also reflects the aircraft family’s reach beyond its North American market. More than a decade after the original CJ4 entered service, Textron is now betting on updated cockpit technology and automation. The upcoming Gen3 will carry the program into its next phase. Long-running light jet The CJ4 sits at the larger end of the light-jet market. It serves owner-pilots, corporate operators and specialized aviation missions. Its operational roles extend beyond conventional business travel. Operators also use the aircraft for air ambulance work, maritime patrol, search and rescue, and aerial surveys. Textron has steadily updated the platform instead of replacing it with an entirely new design. The current Gen2 model introduced changes to the cabin and flight deck. Now, the Gen3 will add Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics and Garmin Emergency Autoland. The latter system can land the aircraft automatically if a pilot becomes unable to fly. Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the 500-aircraft milestone reflects the platform’s staying power. “The Citation CJ4 has set the standard in its class for more than a decade,” O’Bannion said. He added that Textron remains focused on capabilities customers value. Gen3 flight testing Flight testing has already logged more than 880 hours across two Gen3 test aircraft. Textron expects that work to support certification before the end of 2026. The aircraft will remain certified for single-pilot operations. That feature could appeal to owner-operators seeking business-jet performance without requiring a larger flight crew. Textron expects the Gen3 to reach 2,165 nautical miles on a full-fuel mission. The aircraft will also carry a maximum payload of 2,200 pounds. The cabin can seat up to 11 occupants. A baggage capacity of 1,040 pounds gives operators additional flexibility for longer missions. Those figures place the CJ4 Gen3 in a competitive part of the business aviation market. Operators increasingly weigh automation, operating costs and pilot workload when selecting aircraft. Automation takes center stage The Gen3’s cockpit may become its most significant upgrade. Garmin’s G3000 PRIME system brings a newer avionics architecture to the CJ4 platform. Emergency Autoland adds another layer of automation. If the system detects an incapacitated pilot or receives activation, it can take control and guide the aircraft to landing. That technology could carry particular appeal for single-pilot operators. It also adds a safety feature previously associated with more advanced aircraft systems. Textron now faces the final certification process before the Gen3 reaches customers. If approved on schedule, the aircraft will follow 500 delivered CJ4-series jets. The milestone means more than a delivery count for Textron Aviation. It shows that the CJ4 remains commercially relevant as the company moves the light jet toward a more automated future. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.