EVA took advantage of an exclusive event at Norwich, UK-based Saxon Air’s FBO to speak with Textron Aviation’s Regional Sales Director, Ashley Namihas, about the legacy and continuing success of Cessna’s Citation family
Ashley Namihas, Regional Sales Director for Textron Aviation, works out of Farnborough Airport, UK, effectively representing an iconic aviation brand from an equally iconic location. His responsibility covers the Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360, and Denali; and the Cessna Citation portfolio of M2, CJ3, CJ4, Ascend, Latitude and Longitude. “It’s more than a sales role, because there’s also an account relationship management side, checking in with customers, and recognising that aviation can be complicated sometimes,” Namihas says.
During his 12 years or so with Textron, Namihas has seen the jet family evolve, particularly those in the Model 525 series. That designation has largely fallen out of common usage, Namihas explaining: “These are ubiquitous aeroplanes better known by their current model designations M2, CJ3, CJ4 and previous CJ1 and CJ2+. The beauty of the series is that they all have the same type rating. A pilot coming in at the entry level and flying an M2 has a type rating for them all. There’s an obvious pilot journey through the models and we encourage that.
“We see owner pilots learn to fly at a Cessna training centre and then perhaps buy a 182 [Skylane]. Then they progress to an M2 and suddenly they’re progressing through the Model 525 series. We work hard to make that journey as easy and enjoyable as possible. In fact, we have US customers who started in the 182 and are now flying their own Citation Latitude alongside a co-pilot.”
Rich history
While there are obvious differences in size and performance across the Citation range, pilots are left in no doubt they are flying a Cessna: “The logo appears everywhere. It changes colour every now and then, but it’s always present,” Namihas jokes.
The Citation brand has also remained throughout Cessna’s involvement with business jets, which began with the Model 500, first flown in September 1969. Anyone wondering why the company chose to name its pioneering aircraft after a quotation from a book or paper, a reference to a legal case or the note that goes with an award nomination, might be surprised to learn that the inspiration came from a racehorse. The equine Citation won the American Triple Crown in a career that earned more than US$1 million between 1947 and 1951 – equivalent to almost US$14 million in 2025. The horse died in 1970, but its namesake was certified in September 1971, ensuring the name lived on.
Does Namihas think the joint heritage of manufacturer and brand is important to Citation customers? “Very much so. We talk about the legacy, Cessna’s rich history of building more than 280,000 aeroplanes over almost 100 years, including around 8,500 Citations, of which almost 3,000 are Model 525s, and that shows strength and stability.
“I think our continued success is based on listening to the customer and making sure we’re constantly improving and developing the aircraft to be as technologically advanced as possible. In today’s CJ3 that means the Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics suite, including autothrottles in the Gen 3, adding to the autoland and emergency descent mode of the Gen 2.
“I believe our customers value the peace of mind that comes with the strength and support of the brand. They also value the fact that their knowledge and feedback come directly back into the company through our customer advisory boards [CAB]. We listen to those boards and the CJ3 Gen 3 encapsulates so much customer input.”
Delivering real day-to-day operational value to Citation operators, the CABs’ influence upon the CJ3 Gen 3’s improved standards may not always appear to affect features high up on an expected list of improvements for a business jet. Namihas again: “The results include an externally serviced toilet, a wonderful lighting system for passengers, fully digital air conditioning control system, and lots of hard work on improving the aircraft’s acoustics to reduce noise as much as possible. There are also redesigned seats, with a new recline system, new sideledges, wireless cabin management and skylights over the toilet area. There’s an option for a proper sink and vanity area too. It’s a combination of cabin and cockpit improvements, with our support behind it all.”
Textron also packs the Gen 3 with avionics, including a new storm optics weather radar, providing, Namihas says, “cockpit redundancy and incredible situational awareness”. Safety is therefore an obvious driver but so is providing the opportunity for customers to personalise their aircraft. “The CJ3 Gen 3 provides more personalisation options than ever before. We can offer a very high level of sophistication in bespoke styling, our interior design team working closely with the customer to select materials and fabrics. I’ve seen amazing examples with lots of cross-stitching and piping in the seats, features that are becoming more popular.”
Flying the thoroughbred
Much of Namihas’s ‘pitch’ was aimed at customers, but with our interview taking place at the headquarters of UK charter operator Saxon Air, it seemed only correct to explore the reasons why the CJ3 is attractive to charter companies. “If you want to fly six or seven passengers for 1,2000nm – roughly from Edinburgh to Malaga – there is no other business jet that will do it as efficiently as a CJ3. Larger aircraft will have higher fuel and operating costs, and no smaller aircraft can do that trip directly; only the CJ3, with its 2,000nm range, can guarantee that route non-stop with a full passenger load.
“Because the fuel and operating costs are relatively lower than competing aircraft, the operator can charge a premium rate against a favourable hourly cost. The yield from a CJ3 is therefore very impressive and that yield contributes to offsetting the ownership cost.”
Namihas says owners and operators “just get” the CJ3 and its economics. But what about pilots? What is it like to fly?
“They just love it. They get the passion and legacy behind it. In the Gen 2 and Gen 3, pilots enjoy extra legroom in the cockpit, touchscreen avionics, digital pressurisation, digital climate control, and the ability to use the GDL-60 wireless datalink for chart and plan updates. There’s not much extra a pilot could want, all combined with the common type rating and ease of and access to training.
“The CJ3 is a great crossover between smaller aeroplanes like the M2, which has its own loyal customer base, and larger aircraft. It works for the owner pilot and makes commercial sense for charter; it does both really well,” Namihas concludes.