Labelled as the future of business travel, the mid-size jets are easilythe most sought after private jets for business jet charters by the contemporary corporate leaders

The big news this year is that China is entering the business jet market with a global tie-up and this is going to change the dynamics of the general aviation market in the region and globally. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has firmed up an agreement with mid-size business jets maker, Cessna Aircraft, to manufacture mid-size business jets in China.

The announcement has come as a breath of fresh air to the challenging market for mid-size business jets. As such the business jet market is pinning hopes on the Asian region and the US recovery to prop up the market which is expected to touch $22.68 billion ( Rs. 1,24,740 crore) by 2017 with a CAGR of 4.28 per cent over the next five years, according to Lucintel, a consulting and market research firm.

Cessna stir’s the market

Cessna has indeed stirred the mid-size market, one by announcing entry into China, and two with the launch of Citation Longitude which is expected to sit at the top of Cessna’s 16-aircraft product line. Citation Longitude is placed above the high-speed midsize Citation Ten.

The eight-passenger aircraft which is estimated to cost nearly $26 million ( Rs. 143 crore) will be competing with other super mid-size aircraft such as Gulfstream G280 and Hawker 4000. The Longitude is a stretched version of the mid-size Latitude under development. Longitude features a newly designed 87 ft (26.5 m), 30 degree swept wing. It also features winglets and a “T” style empennage.

The Longitude is scheduled to make its first flight in mid-2016. Certification and service entry are earmarked for the third and fourth quarter of 2017 respectively. Cessna has reported that it will develop and manufacture the Longitude at its Wichita facility but may set up assembly lines in other parts of the world where the demand is high.

The mid-size jets and the super mid-size jets combine the long-range transatlantic capability with the speed and comfort of a wide body, high-altitude aircraft and a seating capacity of eight to 12. Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer, Hawker Beechcraft and Gulfstream are the air framers with business jets in different classes, but hotly contesting in the mid-size segment.

Options galore

The aircraft in the super mid-size class include Challenger 300; Challenger 605 (Bombardier Aerospace); Citation X (Cessna); Dassault Falcon 50, Dassault Falcon 2000 (Dassault); Legacy 600 (Embraer); Gulfstream G350; Gulfstream G450 (Gulfstream); and Hawker 4000 (Hawker Beechcraft). The mid-size jets are Learjet 60 XR, Learjet 85 (Bombardier Aerospace); Citation Columbus, Citation XLS, Citation Sovereign (Cessna); Dassault Falcon 20 (Dassault); Legacy 450, Legacy 500 (Embraer); Gulfstream 150, Gulfstream 250 (Gulfstream); Hawker 750, Hawker 850 XP and Hawker 900 XP (Hawker Beechcraft).

Labelled as the future of business travel, the mid-size jets are easily the most sought after private jets for business jet charters by the contemporary corporate leaders. From each of the air framers, we give a peek into one mid-size aircraft.