Korean Air has ordered two Cessna Citation CJ1+ aircraft for advanced pilot training, supplementing the South Korean carrier’s fleet of Cessna Citation Ultras that have been in service since 1995.
It will take deliver of the aircraft in the third quarter of 2009 and base them at its pilot training centre at Jeju. Korean Air joins German airline Lufthansa and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China in selecting the Citation CJ1+ for advanced pilot training, says Cessna.
“Korean Air is one of the world's leading passenger and cargo airlines, with the very highest standards set to achieve its long-term goals. In selecting the thrifty CJ1+ as its new advanced pilot trainer, Korean Air is further strengthening its industry leading pilot training program,” said Robert Hollander, Citation regional sales director, Asia Pacific. “The combination of advanced avionics, performance and handling characteristics, durable design and low cost of operation makes it an ideal aircraft for this high-utilisation environment.”
The aircraft will have a special centre-mounted instructor/observer seat just behind the two pilot seats to provide a more robust training environment, adds the airframer. The Citation CJ1+ is designed for two crew and five passengers, although it can also be operated by a single-pilot. It has a top speed of 389 knots (720 km/h) and a range of 1,300nm (2,408km). It is powered by the Williams FJ44-1AP engine and features the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
