Textron Aviation Delivers Its First Cargo-Passenger Combination Cessna SkyCourier

On Wednesday, July 10, Textron Aviation revealed it had completed the delivery of its first combination Cessna SkyCourier. This aircraft combines both cargo and passenger operations into the versatile airframe. Previously, operators were able to choose only the cargo configuration or only the passenger configuration. Instead, the combi aircraft can be converted from a passenger to a cargo configuration in a timely manner.

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First delivery of the combi aircraft

This delivery is the first delivery of the combi configuration for the Cessna SkyCourier. This specific configuration first got certified in May, earlier this year. Several other deliveries of this configuration are scheduled to be delivered this year.

The Senior Vice President of Sales and Flight Operations at Textron Aviation, Lanni O’Bannion, spoke about the significance of the delivery. O’Bannion stated,

“The Cessna SkyCourier’s new Combi option demonstrates the aircraft’s ability to meet the versatile mission profiles of our customers around the world. We are grateful that longtime Cessna customers like Everts Air recognize the value in our products as business tools and their capability in serving customers.”

The first combi aircraft was delivered to a charter company called Everts Air. This company operates as both a Part 135 operator, which serves passenger, cargo, and charter needs, as well as a Part 121 operator, serving on-demand charter throughout the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. However, this specific aircraft will be delivered to the Part 135 business segment of Everts Air. It will join another SkyCourier and six Cessna Caravans in the Everts Air Part 135 fleet.

The owner of Everts Air, Robert W. Everts, spoke about the new aircraft, stating,

“I look at the Cessna SkyCourier as a next generation aircraft for Bush Alaska. The SkyCourier Combi will allow us to be flexible and serve the unique needs of citizens in remote communities. Along with offering the reliability of a Cessna, the aircraft is highly adaptable and the ultimate solution for air freight and passenger support in Alaska.”

About the Cessna SkyCourier

As previously mentioned, the combi configuration is the most recently-certified configuration for the versatile aircraft. This allows the aircraft to be quickly converted from a passenger configuration with seats to an all-freight configuration. This increases the versatility of the unique aircraft, as prior to this offering, operators had to choose between an all-passenger or all-cargo configuration. The all-passenger configuration can fit up to 19 passengers, whereas the all-cargo configuration can fit three LD3-sized cargo pods. These rectangular pods can fit inside the aircraft due to the unique shape of the aircraft’s fuselage.

The Cessna SkyCourier was first launched in November 2017. Textron Aviation announced that the launch partner for the large turboprop aircraft was FedEx Feeder, which purchased fifty aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft began in 2022, after FedEx took control of the first certified aircraft.

The SkyCourier is a high-wing turboprop aircraft. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines, which provide over 1,100 horsepower each. These engines help power the aircraft to the following specifications: