Transport Canada Civil Aviation has awarded type certification to Textron Aviation’s Cessna SkyCourier utility twin-turboprop. The company expects to deliver the first SkyCourier in Canada this year to Air Bravo, an Ontario-based passenger, cargo, and air ambulance charter operator with facilities in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Barrie, and Meaford.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines, the SkyCourier is flown by a single pilot and cruises at more than 200 knots with a maximum range of 900 nm. Avionics is a Garmin G1000 NXi suite. The freighter version, which Air Bravo has purchased, can carry three LD3 shipping containers, and the airplane has a maximum payload capability of 6,000 pounds. Freight is loaded through a large cargo door.
The SkyCourier received FAA certification in 2022 and is available in freighter or passenger versions or a combi configuration for carrying both. A gravel kit is available for unpaved runways.
“The SkyCourier’s outstanding performance will be a game-changer for our customers across Canada,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation's senior v-p of global sales and flight operations. “The maximum flexibility and low operating costs of this aircraft make it an excellent choice for a wide range of missions throughout the region.”