Wichita, Kansas-based Winglet Technology has received an FAA STC for its Citation Sovereign EPIC Flight Management System (FMS) Take-Off and Landing Database (TOLD) and Flight Planning database (ACDB) update, incorporating improved second segment climb, en-route climb and cruise performance provided by the transitional winglet STC.

The transitional winglet STC increases the Citation Sovereign MTOW by 475 lbs to 30,775 lbs and the maximum zero fuel weight by 200 lbs to 21,000 lbs. The Citation Sovereign transitional winglet STC was amended to permit operations at the higher MTOW and MZFW and update the FMS databases to incorporate take-off and cruise performance provided by the transitional winglet design. The transitional winglet STC for the Citation Sovereign has been approved for the entire fleet.

The Sovereign transitional winglet STC allows the aircraft to climb direct to FL450 at the higher take-off weight, increases the speed of the aircraft by 35 ktas at top FL450 and allows a step climb from FL450 to FL470 at a weight 3,000 lbs heavier than the non-wingleted Sovereign. Weight, altitude and temperature (WAT) limit improvement provided by the transitional winglet allows an eight degrees centigrade or 2,000 lb improvement at departure elevations of 5,000 ft or higher. Sovereign MTOW field lengths are modestly increased by 20 to 40 ft, and second segment climb gradients are improved by 0.5 per cent to 0.7 per cent at the higher MTOW. The FMS update and Cesnav CPCalc and EOM fully incorporate these performance benefits.

“The transitional winglet upgrade will provide Sovereign owners and operators with even greater operational flexibility. The transitional winglets are a great high altitude compliment to the Sovereign's outstanding short field performance,” says Winglet Technology president Bob Kiser.

The Citation Sovereign transitional winglets allow higher maximum cruise speeds at altitude, greater range for a given payload throughout the operating envelope, and improved WAT limit performance. That translates into more flexibility when operating from high/hot airports and improved climb performance that leads to higher initial cruise altitudes.