PPG Industries' aerospace transparencies group has been awarded a contract by Cessna Aircraft Company to supply production and spare windshields and side cockpit windows for the new Citation Latitude mid-size business jet.

"PPG Aerospace is pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Cessna and excited by the opportunity to work on this innovative aircraft," said Arthur Scott, PPG global director for general-aviation transparencies products. "Because of the width of the cockpit on the Citation Latitude, these will be the largest transparencies PPG supplies to Cessna. We appreciate the confidence Cessna has shown in PPG's ability to meet the associated technical challenges."

PPG will design and manufacture main windshields and side cockpit windows for the Citation Latitude jet at its Huntsville, Ala., transparencies facility. The heated windshields and side cockpit windows will be made of HERCULITE(R) II chemically strengthened glass by PPG to be strong and lightweight. They will be designed to resist impact by a 4-pound bird at 305 knots. The main windshields will have SURFACE SEAL(R) coating for water shedding without the need for wipers as well as an antistatic coating.

According to Cessna, first flight of the Citation Latitude prototype is expected to be mid-2014, with Federal Aviation Administration certification (Part 25) and entry into service expected in 2015.