Textron Aviation recently announced the first delivery into Canada for its twin-engine large-utility turboprop — the Cessna SkyCourier — to Air Bravo Corp, a passenger, cargo and air ambulance flight service company with bases in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Barrie, and Meaford (Ontario). The aircraft, a freighter variant, will be used to transport cargo throughout the region.
Rick Horwath, president and CEO of Air Bravo, which was founded in 2001 and has grown to become one of Ontario’s most successful air carriers, said: “We are proud to be the first SkyCourier customer in Canada, and this aircraft is a perfect fit for supporting the cargo side of our business. We look forward to putting it to use.”
The Cessna SkyCourier was awarded type certification by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) in late 2024. The twin-engine, high-wing turboprop is available in both freighter and passenger variants, as well with a Combi configuration or gravel kit for maximum flexibility (the latter is a modification on an aircraft to avoid foreign object debris (FOD) damage or ingestion while operating on unpaved surfaces).
The freighter variant can accommodate up to three LD3 shipping containers and a 6,000lb load capability. Power comes from two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines; the aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200ktas and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range.