27 April 2020:Textron Aviation recently delivered the first two Cessna Citation Latitude aircraft configured for flight inspection missions to Kanematsu Corporation. The third aircraft will be delivered in early 2021.
The aircraft will be owned and operated by the Flight Checker Squadron of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) based at Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo. They will ensure the integrity of instrument approaches and airway procedures that constitute the national airspace of Japan.
"We're proud the JASDF selected the Cessna Citation Latitude, the best-selling midsize jet, in support of its flight inspection mission," said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation. "When the JASDF needed a modern aircraft with low direct operation costs for an enduring mission, it chose the Cessna Citation Latitude."
Fitted with UNIFIS 3000 Flight Inspection System equipment from Norwegian Special Mission (NSM), the aircraft will provide flight inspection missions through the periodic evaluation of navigational aids, such as flight procedures and electronic signals, to ensure they are safe and accurate.
"Flight inspection has long been a vital part of providing a safe air transportation system making instrument flight possible and safeguarding passengers and aircrew," said Gibbs. "The Latitude's long range, large cabin and class-leading performance ideally suit it for the flight inspection mission."