Start the Citation Longitude cold and dark in MSFS with the correct battery, APU, engine-start and after-start sequence, plus no-start fixes.
To start the Citation Longitude cold and dark in Microsoft Flight Simulator, switch on both batteries, start the APU, and connect APU electrical power and bleed air. With the thrust levers at idle, use each engine’s RUN/STOP and START controls, monitor N2, ITT and oil pressure, then transfer the loads and shut down the APU.
How do I load the Longitude genuinely cold and dark?
Choose a ramp, gate or parking stand rather than a runway starting position. Runway departures normally load the aircraft with its engines running, while parking positions allow a manual start; our guide to setting up a genuine parking-stand start in MSFS 2024 explains the relevant starting-state choices.
Set the parking brake and leave physical throttle controllers fully back. If a controller keeps moving the cockpit levers or engine controls, clear duplicate throttle, fuel-cut-off and starter bindings before continuing.
What is the Citation Longitude start sequence?
The reliable flow is electrical power, APU, pneumatic air, one engine, the other engine, then load transfer. This applies to the default Longitude in Microsoft Flight Simulator, although switch behaviour and checklist wording can differ between simulator and aircraft updates.
- Secure the aircraft. Set the parking brake, place both thrust levers at idle and verify that both engine RUN/STOP controls are at STOP. Make sure there is usable fuel aboard.
- Switch on the batteries. Turn on both battery switches and check that the electrical indications and cockpit displays begin to wake up. The Garmin displays can take a short time to initialise.
- Use external power if available. A ground power unit can reduce battery drain, but it supplies electricity rather than the pneumatic air normally needed for an engine start. Connect it only after the cockpit shows that external power is available.
- Start the APU. Move the APU control through its normal run/start sequence. Wait until APU RPM reaches its stable operating indication and its temperature has settled; do not load it while it is still accelerating.
- Connect APU power and air. Select or verify the APU generator, then turn on APU bleed air. If the environmental packs are not inhibited automatically, switch them off during engine start to preserve pneumatic pressure.
- Turn on the beacon. The anti-collision beacon should be on before either engine begins rotating.
- Start the first engine. The right engine is commonly started first, although the simulator does not require that order. Use the right START and RUN/STOP controls in the order shown by the loaded aircraft’s checklist, then confirm that N2 begins rising.
- Monitor the start. Look for an ITT rise, increasing oil pressure and continued N2 acceleration. The Longitude’s FADEC manages ignition and fuel scheduling; leave the thrust lever at idle rather than advancing it to help the engine.
- Wait for a stable idle. Confirm that the starter has disengaged and the engine indications have settled without warnings. Repeat the same process for the left engine.
Do not copy a Citation CJ4 procedure that calls for moving a thrust lever from cut-off at a fixed N2 percentage. The Longitude normally uses separate RUN/STOP and START controls, with the FADEC handling the start sequence.
What should I switch off after both engines start?
After the engine generators and bleed sources are carrying the aircraft, remove the APU loads and shut it down.
- Select or verify both engine generators and confirm normal bus voltage and load indications.
- Configure the engine bleed air and environmental packs for normal operation.
- Check that engine and hydraulic indications are stable and that no start-related cautions remain.
- Switch off APU bleed, disconnect the APU generator and stop the APU, observing any cool-down instruction shown by the aircraft checklist.
- Complete the remaining taxi items: flight controls, trim, flaps, lights, anti-ice as required, transponder and take-off data.
Running engines do not mean the Longitude is ready to taxi. The flight plan, performance data and control configuration still need to be completed.
Why will the Citation Longitude not start?
The first faults to check are missing APU bleed air, a RUN/STOP control left at STOP and controller bindings that override the virtual cockpit.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| APU does not start | No battery power or fuel availability | Verify both batteries, fuel quantity and the complete APU run/start movement. |
| Starter selected but no N2 | No pneumatic pressure | Wait for stable APU RPM, turn on APU bleed and remove unnecessary pack demand. |
| N2 rises but there is no ITT rise | Engine remains at STOP or fuel is unavailable | Check the corresponding RUN/STOP control and fuel indications. |
| Engine starts and immediately stops | A hardware binding is returning the fuel control to STOP | Remove duplicate engine, mixture or cut-off assignments and retry with cockpit controls. |
| ITT rises abnormally | Hot or hung start | Select STOP, disengage the start as directed and allow the engine to cool before another attempt. |
| Engines run but displays remain dark | Generators, buses or display brightness are not configured | Verify both engine generators and raise display brightness from minimum. |
Watch the instruments rather than relying only on engine sound. Our explanation of jet-start indications, fuel introduction and abort checks covers why N2, ITT and oil pressure determine whether a start is healthy.
If switches move without your input, disable AI piloting or automated checklist actions. A spring-loaded START control returning to its normal position can be correct; a RUN/STOP control returning to STOP is not.
Can Ctrl+E start the Citation Longitude?
On PC, the auto-start command commonly assigned to Ctrl+E can start the default Longitude if that binding has not been changed. It is useful for recovering a flight, but it can conceal the missing electrical, pneumatic or controller setting responsible for a failed manual start.