Cessna SkyCourier

offers the versatility to easily convert between passenger and cargo configurations. The cabin features a standard seating configuration of six individual reclining seats and offers a nine- place high density seating option. Passengers will also enjoy large cabin windows, a forward refreshment cabinet and an in-flight accessible baggage compartment. An optional externally serviceable belted lavatory in the rear of the cabin is also available. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Beechcraft Denali cabin Beechcraft Denali cabin Beechcraft Denali Beechcraft Denali BEECHCRAFT KING AIR 260 The most popular business turboprop in the world just got even better. The King Air 260 turboprop now has brand new interior colour schemes, provides a reduced pilot workload with digital pressurisation and the advanced Innovative Solutions and Support ThrustSense autothrottle system. This reduces pilot workload from take-off to touchdown. The Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck brings unprecedented situational awareness to the cockpit, making this turboprop easy to fly, even during single pilot operations. The spacious King Air 260 aircraft cabin, with seating for up to nine, creates an environment of unparalleled comfort with ample head and shoulder room. Acoustic technologies deliver one of the quietest turboprop experiences available. While you work and relax in leather seats, maximise your in-flight productivity with optional wireless connectivity. Taking cues from its predecessor, the King Air 260 aircraft sports an entirely redesigned cabin, complete with reshaped cabinetry, re-sculpted sidewalls, new seat design, even illuminated cupholders. Choose from new interior schemes and enjoy an artfully designed cabin built to suit your style. Pro Line Fusion avionics is an intuitive touch-control flight deck that simplifies how we aviate, navigate and communicate. Featuring iTAWS and TCAS I, Pro Line Fusion has enhanced situational awareness and standard synthetic vision. This is where the power of simplicity meets cutting-edge performance, durability and reliability. Standard features: • IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle • Digital Pressurisation System • Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion Avionics Suite • Three 14-inch Touchscreen Displays • Synthetic Vision System (SVS) • Graphical Flight Planning • Integrated Charts and Maps 74 75 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 75 • Engine-indicating and Crew-Alerting System (EICAS) • Dual Flight Management System (FMS) • MultiScan Weather Radar System (WXR) • Integrated Terrain Awareness and Warning System (iTAWS) • Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS I) • Automatic Flight Guidance System (AFGS) • Dual Navigation and Communication Radios This versatile aircraft continues to provide the cutting-edge touchscreen avionics technology and even greater passenger comfort that you have come to expect from the King Air turboprop family. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Beechcraft King Air 260 cabin Beechcraft King Air 260 cabin Beechcraft King Air 260 Beechcraft King Air 260 76 77 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 77 BEECHCRAFT KING AIR 360 With updates to the airframe, avionics and interior, the Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop represents the latest upgrade to one of the sky’s most iconic aircraft. Additional features and benefits include an enhanced digital pressurisation system, Onboard Maintenance System updates, a full regime autothrottle system and six new interior schemes. The latest iteration in the best-selling King Air family is designed for comfort and built for adventure. Cabin improvements bring increased comfort and elegance to the King Air 360 turboprop. Most notable is a lower cabin altitude resulting from higher cabin pressure. The latest model also features contemporary design cues found in luxury SUVs, plus reshaped cabinetry, re- sculpted sidewalls with pinhole lighting, upgraded seat design, illuminated cupholders and low-profile air/light adjusters. Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion Adaptive, intuitive and fully integrated, the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics system offers capabilities to navigate modern airspace and lighten pilot workload. By implementing the industry’s first touch-control primary flight displays, pilots have increased situational awareness capabilities with an easy-to-use touchscreen interface using advanced situational awareness capabilities and unsurpassed connectivity. Features: • Intuitive graphical touch-screen flight planning • High-resolution Synthetic Vision System (SVS) with patented airport dome graphics • Convenient pre-sets to reconfigure all three displays with a single touch • Full multi-sensor flight management system • Integrated checklists • Open and scalable architecture for future upgrades and mandates • NextGen and precision GPS capabilities: DO-260B compliant ADS-B, SBAS capable GNSS, localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches, radius-to-fix (RF) legs and more TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Beechcraft King Air 360 Beechcraft King Air 360 Beechcraft King Air 360 cabin Beechcraft King Air 360 cabin Beechcraft King Air 360 cockpit Beechcraft King Air 360 cockpit This modernised center pedestal gives pilots the flexibility of multiple input methods, allowing for heads-up flying and greater ease of use. Couple this with new features such as high-resolution synthetic vision technology (SVT) and you will quickly recognise why Pro Line Fusion is regarded as a powerhouse avionics system. The next King Air 360 turboprop reduces pilot workload with standard features like the IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle, which delivers precision control for optimized power output, including Overtorque / Overtemp protection for a more efficient take-off. Digital pressurisation automatically schedules cabin pressure on both climb and descent, increasing passenger comfort and further reducing pilot workload. 78 79 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 79 CESSNA 208 CARAVAN FAMILY The Absolute Aviation Group is the exclusive representative in Southern Africa for Textron Aviation’s Cessna and Beechcraft products. In 2014, Beechcraft Corporation was purchased by Textron Inc. and today all Beechcraft family aircraft are marketed internationally together with Cessna aircraft. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Cessna Caravan cabin Cessna Caravan cabin Cessna Caravan cockpit Cessna Caravan cockpit Cessna Caravan Cessna Caravan CESSNA 208 CARAVAN The Cessna Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States. The aircraft can seat 10-14 occupants, operated by a single pilot. The aircraft is also used for cargo feeder liner operations. The Caravan’s cabin can be outfitted with seats or as a cargo hold. The standard high-density airline configuration features four rows of 1-2 seating behind the two cockpit seats. This variant is capable of holding up to 12 passengers. In January 2013, the higher-powered (867 shp P&WC PT6A-140) Grand Caravan EX (208B), received FAA certification. Cessna offers the 208B in several configurations. The basic 208 airframe can be outfitted with various types of landing gear, allowing it to operate in a wide variety of environments. Some common Caravan adaptations include snow skis, enlarged tyres for unprepared runways and floats on the Caravan Amphibian model. The cabin can be configured in a low-density passenger configuration, with 1-1 seating, as a combination of passengers and cargo, or as a strictly cargo aircraft. Many variants include an underbelly cargo pod, which can be used for additional freight capacity, or for passenger baggage. Several Caravans are operated as skydiving aircraft with the left-side cargo hatch converted to a roll-up door. Presently there are 111 Cessna Caravans operating within the southern African region. Cessna Caravan Cessna Caravan 80 81 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 81 CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN EX The Grand Caravan EX is the most recent addition to Cessna’s successful Caravan family. The Grand Caravan, on which the EX-variant is based, has proved to be exceptionally popular in the southern African region. Especially in destinations such as Botswana’s Okavango Basin and South Africa’s Lowveld, the Grand Caravan’s rugged and dependable design is well matched to the needs of local charter operators. Whilst externally there has been little change to the successful Caravan formula, there have been some significant advancements in the design. The most important change has been the introduction of the new Pratt and Whitney PT6A-140 engine. This replaces the previous PT6A-114A, boosting the power from 675 shp to an impressive 867 shp. This engine was specifically developed for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX and has been a well- received improvement. The Grand Caravan EX enhancements allow for maximum cruise speed of 185 knots and a take-off field length of 2,160 feet. Maximum range is 912nm, but it is the 3,532 pounds of useful load that have made the Cessna Grand Caravan EX so popular. Stall speed is a benign 61 knots. The aircraft retains the innovative Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and all exterior lighting has been upgraded to brighter and longer lasting LED. Engineered for challenging, rugged missions with high payloads and short, rough runways, operators can count on the Grand Caravan EX’s exceptional performance whether utilised for business or personal adventures. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Cessna Grand Caravan EX Cessna Grand Caravan EX 82 83 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 83 CESSNA SKYCOURIER The Cessna SkyCourier (Model C408) was launched on 28 November 2017 by Textron Aviation and the first successful flight followed in May 2020. The 408’s design was developed to match FedEx Express requirements, like the earlier Cessna C208 Caravan. FedEx Express is the launch customer, with an order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more. Initial wind tunnel tests were completed in March 2018. The design is certified to FAR Part 23 standards. FedEx plans began monthly deliveries over four years starting in 2022 and a similar pace for a second batch, if it agrees to that option. A full-scale mock-up of the 19-passenger cabin was displayed at the October 2018 National Business Aviation Association convention. The mating of the wing and fuselage of the first aircraft was completed in December 2019. By March 2020, initial ground testing was completed, checking the fuel system, engines, avionics interfaces and electrical systems. The first flight was completed on 17 May 2020, operating from Beech Factory Airport for a two-hour and 15-minute flight. The prototype aircraft, along with five additional flight and ground test articles, is used for testing leading to certification. The second prototype first flew in August 2020. It is the first production- conforming aircraft and is used for testing the engines, propellers, environmental controls and the avionics. A third test aircraft first flew in September 2020. Certification was completed in March 2022 and initial deliveries followed in May 2022. The SkyCourier made its first public appearance at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in 2021. Reliably lifting off day after day with heavy payloads requires real performance and capability. The all-new Cessna SkyCourier turboprop has been designed for fully loaded high frequency operations and maximum efficiency. Built for high utilisation operations, the Cessna SkyCourier C408 will be offered in cargo and passenger variants. The cargo variant features a large cargo door and a flat floor cabin that is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with an impressive 6,000 pounds of maximum payload capability. The aircraft features a maximum cruise speed of up to 200 knots and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Cessna Sky Courier Cessna Sky Courier 84 85 African Pilot February 2023 February 2023 African Pilot 85 Represented in southern Africa by the Absolute Aviation Group Tel: +27 (0)11 548 3000 E-mail: buyyourplane@absolute.co.za www.absoluteaviation.co.za The efficient 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for great natural light and views. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refuelling to enable faster turnarounds. Entry into service for the clean- sheet design Cessna SkyCourier started in January 2023. TURBOPROP TURBOPROP OEM OEMs s Cessna Sky Courier Cessna Sky Courier freighter interior freighter interior Cessna SkyCourier Cessna SkyCourier cabin seating cabin seating Cessna Sky Courier loading door Cessna Sky Courier loading door