Cessna Citation CJ3: how 527 jets are really flown
The busiest 5% made more than 34 flights a month and the quietest 5% fewer than 3: over 11 times as many, on the same type.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 84% or more; the easier end near none.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 42% or more; the easier end near none.
The hardest-worked 5% log ≈589 h a year or more; the easiest-used, ≈52 h or less. The middle aircraft sits at ≈148 h.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Citation CJ3 flies 1.4 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 0.9 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Middle half 1.2–1.6 : 1Harder end: 5% at 0.9 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 2.0 : 1 or more
Middle half 34–55%Harder end: 5% at 72% or moreEasier end: 5% at 18% or less
Middle half 274–441 nmLowest 5%: 167 nm or lessHighest 5%: 687 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 527 Citation CJ3sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 527 North America Citation CJ3s, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 1.4 : 1 | 1.2–1.6 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 42% | 34–55% |
| Leg length Median leg | 360 nm | 274–441 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Citation CJ3 spends 1% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 27% or more of them there.
Middle half 0–4%Harder end: 5% at 27% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Middle half 5.0–8.7 hHarder end: 5% at 11.7 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 1.9 h or less
Middle half 2–18%Harder end: 5% at 30% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Salt air across the fleet
327 Citation CJ3sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 327 of the 527 North America Citation CJ3s with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (11 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Salt air Nights within 2 km of the coast | 1% | 0–4% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 7% | 1–26% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 6.6 h | 5.0–8.7 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 8% | 2–18% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 8.9 g/m³ | 7.2–10.9 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Citation CJ3 leaves from a short runway on 1% of its departures. One in twenty does on 5% or more.
Middle half 0–2%Harder end: 5% at 5% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Middle half 2–12%Harder end: 5% at 42% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Middle half 1,398–2,169 ftHarder end: 5% at 4,350 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 789 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Runway margin at departure
56,800 departuresThe data behind it
Every measure for the 527 North America Citation CJ3s, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (2 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few departures in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Short runways Departures where the longest runway was under 1.25× the takeoff distance | 1% | 0–2% |
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 6% | 2–12% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 1,664 ft | 1,398–2,169 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Citation CJ3 made 9 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 34 or more, the quietest 3 or fewer.
Middle half 4.8–20.3Harder end: 5% at 33.9 or moreEasier end: 5% at 3.0 or less
Middle half 3.6–11.8Harder end: 5% at 16.3 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.4 or less
Middle half 90–315 hHarder end: 5% at ≈589 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈52 h or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Month by month
12 monthsMedian flights per aircraft that flew that month · darker bar is the busiest month, June 2026
The data behind it
Every measure for the 293 of the 527 North America Citation CJ3s with at least 40% of their flights tracked, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 9.0 | 4.8–20.3 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 6.0 | 3.6–11.8 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈148 h | 90–315 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Citation CJ3?
See where your Citation CJ3 sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 527 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Citation CJ3s are based and fly
McClellan-Palomar is home to more Citation CJ3s than any other field, 11 of the 392 with a home base.
King–Portland-Hillsboro is the busiest route: 241 flights by 5 different aircraft.
Where Citation CJ3s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan-Palomar | 11 | |
| Dallas Love | 8 | |
| Arapahoe | 7 | |
| Oakland | 7 | |
| Scottsdale | 7 | |
| Del Norte | 7 |
Busiest Citation CJ3 routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| King ⇄ Portland-Hillsboro | 241 flights |
| Vancouver ⇄ Calgary | 198 |
| Toronto Pearson ⇄ Teterboro | 174 |
| Calgary ⇄ Scottsdale | 133 |
| King ⇄ Spokane | 115 |
| Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau ⇄ Toronto Pearson | 113 |
Longest Citation CJ3 flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Bay View → Birmingham-Shuttlesworth | 1,824 nm · 5 h 46 min |
| Piedmont Triad → Hemet-Ryan | 1,820 nm · 5 h 52 min |
| John Wayne -Orange → Charlotte Douglas | 1,820 nm · 5 h 49 min |
| McCarran → Kinston Jetport | 1,819 nm · 4 h 24 min |
| The Dalles → Fulton -Brown | 1,817 nm · 4 h 21 min |
Busiest Citation CJ3s this year
The busiest Citation CJ3 made 50 flights a month, five times the middle aircraft.
Even the tenth on this list made 35.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N444AM | 50 | 801 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | N651TW | 43 | 768 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | N525CR | 42 | 716 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | N286N | 39 | 683 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | N820MJ | 38 | 402 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | N174AA | 38 | 514 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | N743JS | 37 | 685 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | N752JS | 35 | 596 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | N702JS | 35 | 617 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | N730JS | 35 | 558 h | Check this tail → |
Citation CJ3 vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each North America fleet, same window and method.
It ranks 2nd of 5 types in its size group on flights a month.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 527 | 9.0 | 148 h | 360 nm | 1.4 : 1 | 42% |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 581 | 17.1 | 272 h | 344 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 45% |
| Cessna Citation CJ2 | 483 | 5.0 | 74 h | 288 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 52% |
| Bombardier Learjet 45 | 360 | 7.4 | 113 h | 431 nm | 1.4 : 1 | 35% |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 325 | 5.6 | 92 h | 366 nm | 1.3 : 1 | 42% |
Do older Citation CJ3s fly differently?
Age matters: by year built, the median Citation CJ3 in each band flew between 78 and 101 estimated hours a year.
Show the tableHide the table
| Serial block | Built | Tracked | Hours a year | Median leg | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 525B0086–525B0004 | 2004–06 | 94 | 94 h | 343 nm | 44% |
| 525B0327–525B0265 | 2007–09 | 126 | 94 h | 352 nm | 44% |
| 525B0338–525B0353 | 2010–12 | 42 | 98 h | 380 nm | 41% |
| 525B0476–525B0459 | 2013–15 | 40 | 86 h | 341 nm | 44% |
| 525B0568–525B0536 | 2016–18 | 52 | 78 h | 337 nm | 43% |
| 525B0599–50500578 | 2019–21 | 50 | 86 h | 398 nm | 39% |
| 525B0712–525B0751 | 2022–26 | 55 | 101 h | 413 nm | 40% |
US-registered aircraft only: the FAA registry gives serial number and year of manufacture for 459 of the 527 we track. Built = year of manufacture. Avionics upgrades are fitted by modification and the registry doesn’t show them, so check an aircraft’s records.
CJ3 vs CJ3+: on paper
One page covers both models: the tracking data doesn’t tell them apart.
Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet; the rest are the manufacturer’s.
| Measure | CJ3 | CJ3+ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 13,870 lb | 13,870 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.36 |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 14,070 lb | 14,070 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.36 |
| Fuel capacity (certified) | 4,710 lb | 4,710 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.34 |
| Range (manufacturer) | ≈ 2,040 nm | ≈ 2,040 nm | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | 3,180 ft | 3,180 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Passengers | Up to 8 certified | Up to 8 certified | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.38 |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (approx.) | ≈ 700 US gal | ≈ 700 US gal | From the certified pounds at 6.7 lb per US gallon of Jet A; actual density varies with temperature |
| High-speed cruise (manufacturer) | 416 kt | 416 kt | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Length (manufacturer) | 51 ft 2 in | 51 ft 2 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | 53 ft 4 in | 53 ft 4 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Height (manufacturer) | 15 ft 2 in | 15 ft 2 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
What the Citation CJ3’s certification file says
Regulators publish an operational evaluation for each type: how pilots must be rated and trained, and what training must stress.
Here is what the Citation CJ3 files say, each item with its source.
Crewing a Citation CJ3
| Item | What the file says |
|---|---|
| Type rating | C525 (single pilot) / C525/D (two-pilot operation), covering the 525 (CJ, CJ1, CJ1+, M2, M2 Gen2) and 525A (CJ2, CJ2+) and 525B (CJ3, CJ3+, CJ3 Gen2) and 525C (CJ4)ANAC OSD Revision 2, p.10 |
| Minimum crew | 1 pilotEASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.37 |
Sources
| Document | Revision |
|---|---|
| EASA TCDS IM.A.078 — Textron Aviation 525 (Citation Jet) | EASA · Issue 19 · 7 May 2026 |
| ANAC Operational Suitability Data, Flight Crew — Textron Aviation CE-525, 525A, 525B, 525C | ANAC · Revision 2 |
Chartering a Citation CJ3
176 of the 527 North America Citation CJ3s we track are on our charter list (33%).
Charter aircraft flew a median 296 estimated hours a year on 20 flights a month; the rest flew 104 hours on 6.
Where charter Citation CJ3s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan-Palomar | 8 | |
| Dallas Love | 5 | |
| Oakland | 5 | |
| Miami | 3 | |
| Napa | 2 | |
| Nashville | 2 |
Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft. No charter rates: prices depend on the operator and the trip. Check a specific aircraft’s record with its tail number before you book.
Citation CJ3 questions
How many hours a year does a Citation CJ3 fly?
The median North America Citation CJ3 flies about 148 estimated hours a year; the middle half sits between 90 and 315. About 1 in 20 flies more than 589.
How often does a Citation CJ3 fly?
9 flights a month on 6 flying days at the median. About 1 in 20 makes more than 34 flights a month.
How long is a typical Citation CJ3 flight?
The median leg is 360 nm. About 1 in 20 aircraft average more than 687 nm a leg.
How often do Citation CJ3 aircraft use short runways?
At the median, 1% of departures are from fields whose longest runway is under 1.25 times the type’s takeoff distance. About 1 in 20 keep it to 0% or less.
Is a high-hours Citation CJ3 a bad buy?
Not by itself. High hours on long legs are gentler on the structure than the same hours on short hops. Look at hours per landing and short-hop share alongside hours.
Can a Citation CJ3 fly across the Atlantic?
Yes. The manufacturer quotes 2,040 nm. In our tracking window, 1 of the 527 North America aircraft flew 2 nonstop crossings between the Americas and Europe or Africa. The busiest were Winnipeg J. A. Richardson–Malta (1 flights), Napa–Malta (1 flights).
How many gallons of fuel does a Citation CJ3 hold?
About 700 US gallons for the CJ3 and 700 for the CJ3+. The type certificate gives the capacity in pounds (4,710 and 4,710 lb); we convert at 6.7 lb per gallon of Jet A, so the gallons are approximate.
Where are most Citation CJ3 aircraft based?
In North America, McClellan-Palomar is home to the most, followed by Dallas Love and Arapahoe. A base is the field an aircraft touches on most of its flying days, month after month.
Cite this data
The Aircraft Ledger. “Cessna Citation CJ3 fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/cessna/citation-cj3
Method: Cessna Citation CJ3 aircraft with most departures in North America and at least 20 tracked flights in the latest twelve full months. Flight measures, bases, routes and rankings use ADS-B tracking 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026; corrosion and engines-and-brakes exposure use the same twelve months, or an aircraft’s record since 1 Jan 2025 when it had too few nights or departures in them. Estimated hours from time in the air. Tracking misses some flights, so counts and hours are minimums. ADS-B coverage grew over the window, so we don’t compare one year with the last. Tracking can’t tell one variant from another; the variant split, the busiest table’s variants and the age table use the FAA registry, so they cover US-registered aircraft only. We assume the longest runway at each field, so short-runway figures are conservative. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft. About our data