Textron Aviation will offer a new, standard repair process for Cessna Citation CJ-series aircraft main landing gear (MLG) that is more cost-effective for owners and operators, the Wichita-based airframer announced. The project is being led by Textron Aviation along with its Mesa, Arizona-based Able Aerospace Services subsidiary.

“The desire to have the option to repair instead of replacing CJ landing gear is something we’ve been hearing from our customers, so we are excited about this solution in response to their feedback,” said Textron Aviation senior v-p of customer support Brian Rohloff. “Currently, any amount of significant damage to landing gear requires replacement, which is a costly and time-consuming process. We are pleased to be able to solve this pain point and ultimately reduce operating costs for our customers while minimizing downtime by providing them with a rental asset while we repair their gear.”

Textron Aviation noted the MLG repair project is in the final stages of certification. Initial testing—involving up to five lifetimes, or 75,000 landings, of the MLG’s life limit—took place on a CJ3, and the program is expected to be expanded across all CJ series aircraft beginning in 2021. “The lessons we have learned from this project will pave the way for future innovations,” said Textron Aviation senior v-p of parts and programs Kriya Shortt.