Story ID: GPskycourier05232023
Textron Aviation Delivers First Passenger SkyCourier 
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Hawaii’s Lanai Air will operate the first passenger version of the Cessna SkyCourier, providing air service between Oahu and the island of Lanai.
Word Count: 217
Textron Aviation has delivered the first passenger version of the Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, large-utility turboprop to Western Aircraft, which does business in Hawaii as Lanai Air, the Wichita-based manufacturer said Tuesday. Lanai Air offers luxury air service connecting Oahu to the island of Lanai.
Certification and deliveries of the SkyCourier started in early 2022. Powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines, the aircraft features the McCauley Propeller C779 four-blade propeller, which allows for full feathering with reversible pitch. The SkyCourier features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and flies to a maximum cruise speed of 200 ktas and a range of 900 nm.
“The Cessna SkyCourier is well on its way to becoming a legendary aircraft for our company,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation senior v-p of global sales and flight operations. “It’s highly versatile, with cabin flexibility, payload capability, performance, and low operating costs, and has already proven to be popular around the world.”
Designed for ease of maintenance, the SkyCourier employs simple systems and easy access points throughout the aircraft. The team also developed innovative ways to optionally convert the aircraft from a 19-seat passenger configuration to a cargo configuration using quick-release seats and removable bulkheads.