First Cessna Skycourier for OZ

[Greg Hyde]

From CH-Aviation

Hinterland Aviation (OI, Cairns) will become Australia's first operator of the Cessna 408 SkyCourier passenger variant after finalising a purchase agreement with Textron Aviation for two. Hinterland CEO Andrew Clair told ch-aviation that the SkyCourier was the "clear choice" to supplement the carrier's existing fleet of Cessna (single turboprop) Caravans and Beechcraft King Airs.

Hinterland Aviation is a charter and scheduled passenger operator based in North Queensland. Its 12-strong fleet of 12-passenger C208B Caravans operate regular passenger flights around the Torres Strait islands and mainland airports in Queensland's Cape York area. Including charter services, the airline operates over 8,000 flights annually.

"The SkyCourier not only brings added capacity to our existing routes but also extends our network reach, enabling new regional routes, whilst the 19-seat configuration precisely fills a gap in the market," said Clair. "Moreover, at a time when the aviation industry is contending with critical skill shortages in maintenance, a challenge expected to intensify in the future, the

SkyCourier distinguishes itself with its simple and robust design."

Clair said he expects the two aircraft to deliver in the second half of 2026. While the serial numbers remain unknown because the aircraft are yet to enter production, Hinterland has reserved the registration numbers VH-A48 and VH-X48 for them. Textron's SkyCourier uses two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines.

[Greg Hyde]

Cessna's twin turbine C408 SkyCourier has been flying for five years, but Australia is yet to see any examples in our skies, not even so much as a company demonstrator.

The reason for the absence is an indicator of the design's success: Textron is too busy building to meet rising demand that there are very few uncommitted airframes available.

Cairns-based Hinterland Aviation has ordered two of the 19-seat passenger versions, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in 2026, so next year we should get our first taste of the aircraft that is threatening to be a genuine game-changer in the freight and short-haul passenger markets.

Textron unveiled the C408 in 2017, coupled with an announcement of an order of 50 aircraft for launch customer FedEx. It was to be completely clean-sheet; a strutted high-wing aircraft with fixed gear, a flat floor, T-tail and pulled along by twin turbo-props.

The SkyCourier is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turbo-prop engines swinging McCauley C779 propellers, giving the C408 a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 KTAS and a 900-nm maximum range.

It promised efficiency and economy in transport and cargo markets, heavily influenced by the demands of FedEx. However, Textron ensured the C408 would also excel in other missions.

Currently, three variants make up the range: C408F freighter, which can accommodate LD3 containers; C408P configured for 19 passengers, and the C408C Combi, which carries nine passengers in the front half and cargo in the rear half.

“The versatility of the Cessna SkyCourier enables operators to tackle diverse mission profiles and operate in some of the most challenging environments in the world,” Lannie O’Bannion, Textron senior vice president, Sales and Marketing said this week.

“With two variants of the aircraft and the optional gravel and combi conversion kits, the SkyCourier has brought innovative solutions to our customers around the globe."

On 17 May 2020, the first prototype left the runway at Wichita, Kansas, marking the beginning of the road to FAA certification, which ended with the first production roll-out in February 2022, and certification one month later.
Textron delivered the first of type to FedEx in May that year.

Since then, Textron has been frantically trying to keep up with demand, and this week announced construction of a six-bay, 52,000 square foot production flight test facility to support ongoing SkyCourier operations.

The SkyCourier joins the Cessna Grand Caravan and King Airs in the Textron turbo-prop range, which will expand to four models after the Beechcraft Denali is certified next year.

As a country that has embraced short-haul turbo-prop operations with King Airs and PC-12s, Australia should find that on paper the C408 SkyCourier fits the mission profiles of many charter and short-haul airlines.

CASA issued a type certificate for the C408 in May last year, which means

SkyCouriers can now be placed on the Australian register.

That won't happen until Hinterland accepts its first SkyCourier some time in 2026.

https://www.australianflying.com.au/...ourier-flights