A Textron Aviation announced today that the US Federal Aviation istration (FAA) has granted type certification for the new Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine turboprop.
Three aircraft were used in the certification process, accumulating more than 2100 hours in test and development flights. The in-flight development program began in May 2020 during the pandemic and was finalized earlier this year.
“Achieving FAA certification for the Cessna SkyCourier demonstrates the experience and hard work of our employees, as well as Textron Aviation's continued investment in providing solutions for our customers”, said Ron Draper, President and CEO of Textron Aviation. “Our clean-sheet design brings to this segment what customers have said they need: the ability to load, fly, unload and repeat with low operating costs and maximum cabin flexibility and efficiency. We expect SkyCourier to be a fleet workhorse for FedEx and many other customers around the world for decades to come.”
“The SkyCourier adds to Textron Aviation's extensive portfolio as the perfect aircraft for customers to operate in the charter and regional airline market, offering a huge competitive advantage in of enger and/or cargo capacity and, consequently, a low operating cost. We were very excited to see another Textron Aviation product being able to be part of the history of Brazilian regional aviation. There is no doubt that SkyCourier perfectly fits the needs of our market”, declares Leonardo Fiuza, president of TAM AE.
A first production aircraft, presented in February, will be delivered in the coming weeks to FedEx, a first-time customer.
Meet the Cessna SkyCourier
The Cessna SkyCourier is offered in a variety of configurations including freighter, enger or mixed, all based on a common platform with a payload of 6.000 pounds. The freighter configuration is designed to accommodate three standard air cargo containers (LD3), while the enger variant carries up to 19 engers and luggage.
In addition to a clear focus on regional aviation, mainly due to the configuration of two Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engines with 1100 hp (each), an estimated cruising speed of 370 km/h and autonomy of 1600 km, and with a total load of around 740 km.
Cessna also presented a cargo version of the new plane, already in the colors of FedEx, which has already taken the opportunity to order 100 units of this plane.
With the configuration to transport engers, the Cessna SkyCourier has a wide fuselage, capable of carrying up to 3 engers per row, a configuration similar to that of the Embraer Brasília, a regional turboprop that was once quite successful in the USA.
Its maximum load carrying capacity is 2721 kg, to improve the plane it has items that increase robustness, such as the fully fixed landing gear.
