PPG Industries' (NYSE:PPG) aerospace transparencies business has been awarded a contract by Cessna Aircraft Co. to develop and produce all-glass heated cockpit windows for the new Citation Columbus business jet, according to PPG officials. Terms were not disclosed.

PPG will supply shipsets for Cessna's production as well as spares, according to Ann Wommack, PPG senior account manager.

The windshields and side cockpit windows for the Citation Columbus business jet are expected to be similar to those PPG supplies for Cessna's Citation VII, Citation X, Citation Excel, Citation Sovereign and Citation CJ4 business jets, Wommack said.

"PPG has a long history supplying cockpit windows to Cessna, and we are pleased to be able to work with them on this exciting, new platform," she said.

The cockpit windows for the Columbus jet will have three plies of Herculite II glass by PPG, which is chemically tempered for high strength at light weight, and the Nesatron heating system, according to Wommack. The windshields will also have Surface Seal hydrophobic coating for rain clearing and an antistatic coating to redirect static discharge, enhancing the life of the Surface Seal coating. Using Surface Seal coating on windshields enables Cessna to pursue certification without wipers on its planes, she said.

The transparencies will be produced at PPG's Huntsville, Ala., aircraft products plant.

The Citation Columbus is expected to gain full certification in 2013 and to enter service in 2014.

PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world's largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants, and packaging and application systems.