FAA Certification For Cessna SkyCourier The United States based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now officially certified the new Cessna SkyCourier. The certification comes less than two years after the 408 SkyCourier took its first flight. Three testbed aircraft were used in the flight test and certification campaign and that testing period saw some 2,100 flight test hours accumulated. "Our clean-sheet design brings to this segment what customers said they need: the ability to load, fly, unload and repeat with low operating costs and maximum cabin flexibility, and efficiency," said Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper. "We expect the SkyCourier to be a workhorse of the fleet for FedEx and many other customers around the globe for decades to come."
Federal Express is expected to take delivery of the first customer-bound aircraft very soon. Fed Ex is a significant customer as they have 50 firm orders with options for 50 more. The aircraft is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty and reliable 110-inch aluminum four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling large loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. It has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range. The aircraft features a large door and a flat floor cabin, and the freighter version can hold up to three LD3 shipping containers with an impressive 6,000 pounds of payload capability. For more information: Cessna Aircraft Company 1 Cessna Blvd. Wichita, KS 67215 www.cessna.com ***
