New Cessna twin turboprop unveiled for cargo and commuter operations

The SkyCourier is a clean-sheet design and is expected to enter service in 2020. It will come in both cargo and commuter options. In its passenger format it will be able to carry 19 passengers.

“With our depth of expertise and proven success in new product development, we were eager to work directly with a world-class company like FedEx Express to jointly develop the Cessna SkyCourier,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO of Textron Aviation. “The aircraft will fulfill a gap in this market segment with its superior performance and low operating costs in combination with the cabin flexibility, payload capability and efficiency only a clean-sheet design can offer.”
The cargo variant will feature 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 will also afford a maximum cruise speed of up to 200 ktas and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range.
The 19-passenger variant will include crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for great natural light and views. Both configurations will offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds.
When Textron brought Beechcraft and Cessna together, there were drawings of a new twin turboprop from Beechcraft but Textron marketeers argue that the Cessna Caravan platform set the standard in the single-engine utility category for decades say the SkyCourier will build on that proven success in the large-utility category, offering even greater capability and mission flexibility.
Computer graphics from Textron show just how much larger the new SkyCourier is, compared to the Caravan. With its 54’10” length (16.71m) it is almost a metre longer than the Viking Twin Otter 400 with which it will compete
It will be powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC engines providing 1,100 SHP each. It also features McCauley 4-blade Blackmac propellers.

With a 5.000lb payload it will have a 400nm mile “perfect for feeder operations” FedEx said.Textron Aviation and FedEx leadership at today's signing ceremony (from left to right: David L. Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express; David J. Bronczek, president and COO, FedEx Corp.; Scott Donnelly, chairman, president and CEO, Textron Inc.; Scott Ernest, president and CEO, Textron Aviation)

Airbus Foundation and Air Mauritius team up for goodwill flight

The Airbus Foundation and the Air Mauritius Foundation have operated a humanitarian flight comprising 3.5 tonnes of medical equipment on board the airline's latest A350-900 aircraft.

The cargo, which consisted of medical equipment including examination tables, wheelchairs, mattresses and medical beds, will help Mauritian NGOs that provide health care services to the community. Equipment will also be flown to Madagascar in order to ease the tense health care situation in the country.  

The aircraft took off from Toulouse on 25 November flying the goods to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, the home base of Air Mauritius. This is a joint humanitarian initiative facilitated by Aviation sans Frontières, the Airbus Foundation and the Air Mauritius Foundation.  

 

“It is a great honour for us and our Air Mauritius Foundation to be working shoulder to shoulder with the Airbus Foundation and Aviation Sans Frontières to make this humanitarian flight a reality,” said Somas Appavou, Chief Executive Officer of Air Mauritius. “The Air Mauritius Foundation was launched to strengthen our company’s social engagement. Every year, we help thousands of Mauritians in the fields of health, education, sports and culture. This mission is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the power of cooperation in aviation to bring much needed relief to people in the region.” 

 

“I am proud to see that yet another brand new customer aircraft is being delivered with humanitarian goods on board,” said Fabrice Brégier, President Airbus Commercial Aircraft and a Member of the Airbus Foundation’s Board of Directors. “I wish to thank Air Mauritius and all partners involved for their truly tremendous and tireless efforts to conduct this mission.”

 

Air Mauritius has also received its second Airbus A350-900 in Toulouse on November 25, 2017. It has made its first commercial flight from Paris CDG to Mauritius.

 

Bombardier cements Q400 deal with South Africa's Cem Air

At an event in Johannesburg last night, Bombardier confirmed this orderfollowed a letter of intent signed at the Paris Airshow, earlier this year and is valued at $66million at list price.

"CemAir has enjoyed significant growth in the last few years and this has come from our focused approach on selecting the right aircraft for our operation", said Miles van der Molen, the airline’s CEO. "The Q400 is a fantastic performer especially in our environment of high altitudes and hot operating temperatures. It is really an unbeatable turboprop that brings so many jet-like features to ensure a competitive and operational advantage in our market. We see the Q400 as the ideal growth solution for our scheduled and charter operations as we continue to strengthen our relationship with Bombardier. We are working to expand our scheduled operations beyond South Africa and continuing to support new opportunities across the continent."

With these Q400 aircraft, CemAir sees an increase its current fleet of Bombardier aircraft to 17 - including five Q Series turboprops and 12 CRJ Series aircraft. CemAir recently added a used CRJ900 aircraft to its fleet, the first in South Africa.

The company has operating and leasing experience throughout Africa and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Kenya, Mali, Gabon, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, as well as South Africa.

Speaking at the event, Bombardier’s Jean-Paul Boutibou, vice president, sales, Middle-East and Africa said: "The Q400 is the next natural step in the growth of CemAir's fleet as it brings more flexibility to increase the capacity on key routes. The Q400 will open several market opportunities to CemAir on domestic and future regional routes."