Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Cessna Citation 525, CitationJet, CJ1, CJ2, CJ3, CJ4, and M2 Series

Matt Thurber

Following development of a fully integrated avionics suite for the Textron Aviation Cessna Citation CJ2 in March 2024, the upgrade has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for the Citation CJ1. The upgrade replaces all of the original avionics with Garmin touchscreen TXi displays, GTN Xi navigators, GFC 600 digital autopilot, and any additional optional equipment.
While the upgrade package includes 10.6-inch TXi displays, buyers can opt for Garmin’s 12.1-inch displays for the primary and multifunction displays (PFD and MFD). The standby flight instrument is a Garmin GI 275 mounted on the pilot’s side, and a second GI 275 on the copilot side is an option. The pilot PFD and GI 275 are powered by the CJ1's emergency bus, while the copilot's GI 275 has an internal backup battery. Heading, altimeter, airspeed, and altitude selections are synchronized between the GI 275 and the PFD, and synthetic vision is also available for display on the GI 275.
All engine instruments are replaced with Garmin’s TXi engine indication system (EIS), which includes automatically computed N1 targets for takeoff, go-around, and max continuous thrust settings, displayed as reference bugs. The EIS display includes timers to help monitor transient engine limitations during start.
Garmin’s situational awareness features are included in the upgrade. Stabilized approach monitoring gives aural annunciations such as “speed,” “course,” “glidepath,” and “sink rate” to alert the pilot of exceedances of predetermined speed, course, or vertical descent rates. During takeoff, pilots receive aural alerting of V-speeds.
Dual GTN Xi navigators provide GPS and navcom capabilities. With the GFC 600 autopilot, pilots can fly coupled VNAV descents and coupled go-arounds after a missed approach and create and fly published or user-defined holding patterns. Emergency descent mode will automatically fly the CJ1 to a preset altitude in case of loss of cabin pressurization.
Garmin has added FAA Data Comm to the CJ1 and CJ2 upgrades, enabling access to departure clearances at more than 60 U.S. airports and en route clearances, frequency changes, and other text-based messaging with air traffic control above FL180.
Options with the CJ1 upgrade include the GWX 8000 StormOptix weather radar with auto mode for automatic tilt and gain settings to profile weather cells. A new display grouping feature allows pilots to view individual tilts and returns when in manual mode on their displays.
Also optional is the PlaneSync connected aircraft management system, available with the addition of the GDL 60 datalink. PlaneSync enables automatic avionics database downloads and checking fuel quantity, database status, GPS location, temperatures, and other information remotely via the Garmin Pilot app. After landing, PlaneSync can automatically transmit flight and engine log data to secure cloud storage.
Garmin’s GMA 35C audio panel is an option, with auto squelch, 3D audio, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. For full ADS-B Out and In capability, buyers can opt for the GTX 345R transponder with optional antenna diversity. GDL 69A SiriusXM datalink, GTS traffic systems, and GSR 56 datalink are also available.
Garmin dealers can install the CJ1 upgrade, and it is available from Textron Aviation service centers. According to Brian Rohloff, Textron Aviation senior v-p, customer support, “At Textron Aviation, we’re committed to enhancing customers’ aircraft no matter where it is in its life cycle, and offering the all-Garmin retrofit solution for the Cessna Citation CJ1 delivers on that commitment. The upgrade enhances the in-flight experience, offering the latest technology available today to support pilots as missions and technology evolve.”&nbsp;

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In this article

Cessna Citation 525/CJ Series

Garmin

Textron Aviation

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