Cessna SkyCourier receives FAA type certification

Cessna announced Monday that the 408 SkyCourier twin-engine turboprop had received type certification by the FAA.

The first prototype rolled of the factory floor almost 2 years ago, since then 2 more have been built and it has accumulated over 2,100 flight test hours.

The aircraft is the first clean sheet twin-utility turboprop in a long time, it has been developed at the request by FedEx for a new generation small turboprop to expand its FedEx feeder branch. FedEx has ordered 50 of the aircraft with options for 50 more and is the launch customer, Cessna did not specify when the first delivery would take place only saying that it would be “soon”.

The aircraft is powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines attached to four-bladed McCauley aluminum propellers, it has a maximum cruise speed of 200 knots and a 900-nm range. The cockpit features Garmins G1000 NXi avionics.

In a cargo configuration it can hold up to three LD3 shipping containers with a 6,000Ib payload capacity, it can also be configured to carry 19 passengers or a combi (cargo/passenger) configuration. The type is also certified for single pilot operations, a big selling point for operators.