Cessna Citation CJ4: how 325 jets are really flown
The busiest 5% made more than 19 flights a month and the quietest 5% fewer than 3: over six times as many, on the same type.
At the harder end, one Citation CJ4 in twenty sees a freeze and a thaw on 35% or more of its nights. At the easier end, most see almost none.
The hardest-worked 5% log 19 flights a month or more; the easiest-used, 3 or less. The middle aircraft sits at 6.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 4,772 ft or more; the easier end at 749 ft or less.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Citation CJ4 flies 1.3 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 0.9 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Middle half 1.1–1.6 : 1Harder end: 5% at 0.9 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 1.9 : 1 or more
Middle half 30–54%Harder end: 5% at 77% or moreEasier end: 5% at 14% or less
Middle half 258–511 nmLowest 5%: 168 nm or lessHighest 5%: 723 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 325 Citation CJ4sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 325 North American Citation CJ4s, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 1.3 : 1 | 1.1–1.6 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 42% | 30–54% |
| Leg length Median leg | 366 nm | 258–511 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Citation CJ4 spends 0% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 5% or more of them there.
Middle half 0–1%Harder end: 5% at 5% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 3.7–8.3 hHarder end: 5% at 10.6 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.1 h or less
Middle half 2–19%Harder end: 5% at 35% 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
187 Citation CJ4sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 187 of the 325 North American Citation CJ4s with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (7 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 | 0% | 0–1% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 3% | 0–10% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 5.9 h | 3.7–8.3 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 8% | 2–19% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 9.0 g/m³ | 6.7–11.2 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Citation CJ4 leaves from a short runway on 2% of its departures. One in twenty does on 10% or more.
Middle half 0–4%Harder end: 5% at 10% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 1–12%Harder end: 5% at 47% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 1,468–2,456 ftHarder end: 5% at 4,772 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 749 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Runway margin at departure
24,136 departuresThe data behind it
Every measure for the 324 of the 325 North American Citation CJ4s with enough departures we could assess, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (1 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Short runways Departures where the longest runway was under 1.25× the takeoff distance | 2% | 0–4% |
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 4% | 1–12% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 1,888 ft | 1,468–2,456 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Citation CJ4 made 6 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 19 or more, the quietest 3 or fewer.
Middle half 4.1–8.4Harder end: 5% at 19.4 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.6 or less
Middle half 3.0–5.9Harder end: 5% at 10.4 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.1 or less
Middle half 62–135 hHarder end: 5% at ≈276 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈38 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 325 North American Citation CJ4s, every active aircraft (no 40% tracking floor here: on this type it would change which aircraft are compared, not just drop undercounted ones), 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 5.6 | 4.1–8.4 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 4.1 | 3.0–5.9 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈92 h | 62–135 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Citation CJ4?
See where your Citation CJ4 sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 325 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Citation CJ4s are based and fly
Tradewind is home to more Citation CJ4s than any other field, 10 of the 287 with a home base.
King–Portland-Hillsboro is the busiest route: 158 flights by 3 different aircraft.
Where Citation CJ4s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Tradewind | 10 | |
| Arapahoe | 7 | |
| Fort Worth Meacham | 6 | |
| Scottsdale | 6 | |
| Austin-Bergstrom | 5 | |
| Joe Foss | 5 |
Busiest Citation CJ4 routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| King ⇄ Portland-Hillsboro | 158 flights |
| King ⇄ Norman Y. Mineta San Jose | 98 |
| Henderson ⇄ Provo | 92 |
| Chandler ⇄ John Wayne | 85 |
| Laredo ⇄ San Antonio | 73 |
| Austin-Bergstrom ⇄ Fort Worth Meacham | 71 |
Longest Citation CJ4 flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Salinas → Kissimmee Gateway | 2,080 nm · 5 h 06 min |
| Portland-Hillsboro → Raleigh-Durham | 2,064 nm · 5 h 19 min |
| McCarran → Manchester | 2,043 nm · 5 h 10 min |
| Van Nuys → Richmond | 1,997 nm · 5 h 34 min |
| McClellan-Palomar → Boca Raton | 1,969 nm · 5 h 37 min |
Busiest Citation CJ4s this year
The busiest Citation CJ4 made 46 flights a month, seven times the middle aircraft.
Even the tenth on this list made 25.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Base | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N478NE | Fort Worth Meacham | 46 | 786 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | N897NE | General Mitchell | 39 | 456 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | N96NE | Scottsdale | 37 | 731 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | N812NE | Scottsdale | 36 | 750 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | N824NE | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood | 36 | 617 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | N623NE | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood | 34 | 603 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | N545NE | Waukesha | 29 | 469 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | N581HC | Salt Lake City | 27 | 311 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | N68NE | General Mitchell | 26 | 364 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | N423NE | General Mitchell | 25 | 431 h | Check this tail → |
Citation CJ4 vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each North American fleet, same window and method.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 325 | 5.6 | 92 h | 366 nm | 1.3 : 1 | 42% |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 581 | 17.1 | 272 h | 344 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 45% |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 527 | 9.0 | 148 h | 360 nm | 1.4 : 1 | 42% |
| Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII | 257 | 4.7 | 76 h | 292 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 51% |
| Cessna Citation III/VI/VII | 117 | 5.2 | 88 h | 333 nm | 1.3 : 1 | 46% |
Citation CJ4 vs Citation CJ3 →Citation CJ4 vs Citation Longitude →Citation CJ4 vs Phenom 300 →Citation CJ4 vs PC-24 →
Do older Citation CJ4s fly differently?
Age makes little difference: by year built, the median Citation CJ4 in each band flew between 90 and 102 estimated hours a year.
Show the tableHide the table
| Serial block | Built | Tracked | Hours a year | Median leg | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 525C0194–525C0260 | 2015–17 | 36 | 90 h | 362 nm | 38% |
| 525C0262–525C0345 | 2018–20 | 51 | 102 h | 383 nm | 42% |
| 525C0346–525C0431 | 2021–23 | 53 | 90 h | 325 nm | 44% |
| 525C0433–525C0498 | 2024–26 | 33 | 98 h | 318 nm | 48% |
US-registered aircraft only: the FAA registry gives serial number and year of manufacture for 181 of the 325 aircraft behind the hours figures. Built = year of manufacture. Avionics upgrades are fitted by modification and the registry doesn’t show them, so check an aircraft’s records.
Citation CJ4 on paper
Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet; the rest are the manufacturer’s.
| Measure | CJ4 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 17,110 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.46 |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 17,230 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.46 |
| Fuel capacity (certified) | 5,828 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.44 |
| Range (manufacturer) | ≈ 2,165 nm | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | 3,410 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Passengers | Up to 9 certified | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.078 Issue 19, p.47 |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (approx.) | ≈ 870 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) | 451 kt | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Length (manufacturer) | 53 ft 4 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | 50 ft 10 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
| Height (manufacturer) | 15 ft 5 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 29 Nov 2020) |
What the Citation CJ4’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 CJ4 files say, each item with its source.
Crewing a Citation CJ4
| 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.47 |
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 CJ4
41 of the 325 North American Citation CJ4s we track are on our charter list (13%).
Charter aircraft flew a median 139 estimated hours a year on 10 flights a month; the rest flew 88 hours on 5.
Where charter Citation CJ4s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Wiley Post | 4 | |
| Austin-Bergstrom | 3 | |
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood | 3 | |
| General Mitchell | 3 | |
| Nashville | 2 | |
| Danbury | 2 |
Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. 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 CJ4 questions
How many hours a year does a Citation CJ4 fly?
The median North American Citation CJ4 flies about 92 estimated hours a year; the middle half sits between 62 and 135. About 1 in 20 flies more than 276.
How often does a Citation CJ4 fly?
6 flights a month on 4 flying days at the median. About 1 in 20 makes more than 19 flights a month.
How long is a typical Citation CJ4 flight?
The median leg is 366 nm. About 1 in 20 aircraft average more than 723 nm a leg.
How often do Citation CJ4 aircraft use short runways?
At the median, 2% 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 CJ4 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.
How many gallons of fuel does a Citation CJ4 hold?
About 870 US gallons. The type certificate gives 5,828 lb; we convert at 6.7 lb per gallon of Jet A, so the figure is approximate.
Where are most Citation CJ4 aircraft based?
In North America, Tradewind is home to the most, followed by Arapahoe and Fort Worth Meacham. 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 CJ4 fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/cessna/citation-cj4
Embed a chart
<iframe src="https://theaircraftledger.com/embed/fleet/cessna-citation-cj4/fatigue" title="Fatigue" width="100%" height="1180" style="border:0;max-width:960px" loading="lazy"></iframe>Method: Cessna Citation CJ4 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. Short-runway figures use the manufacturer’s published takeoff distance where our sources hold one for every variant (the longest, where tracking can’t tell variants apart), and a reference figure otherwise. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights, some over the longer window when the twelve months had too few. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. About our data