WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced its new twin-engine, high-wing, large-utility turboprop – the Cessna SkyCourier 408. FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and longtime Textron Aviation customer, has signed on as the launch customer for up to 100 aircraft, with an initial fleet order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more. Entry into service for the clean-sheet design Cessna SkyCourier is planned for 2020.
“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.”
About the Cessna SkyCourier
Built for high utilization
operations, the Cessna SkyCourier 408 will be offered in cargo and
passenger variants. 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 efficient 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.
The Cessna Caravan platform has set the standard in the single-engine utility category for decades. The Cessna SkyCourier will build on that proven success in the large-utility category, offering even greater capability and mission flexibility.
FedEx Express order
Textron Aviation has built a strong
relationship with FedEx Express, which has utilized the Cessna Caravan
platform in its feeder aircraft fleet for over 30 years.
“FedEx Express has had a great relationship with Textron Aviation over the years, and this new, advanced aircraft will play a key role in our feeder aircraft modernization strategy,” said David L. Cunningham, president and CEO of FedEx Express. “The Cessna SkyCourier 408 offers a number of significant features that will enhance our long-term feeder strategy.”
Images:
Cessna
SkyCourier
FedEx
Express Cessna SkyCourier
Cessna
SkyCourier cargo variant
Cessna
SkyCourier passenger variant
Textron
Aviation and FedEx leadership at 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)
Additional information:
Visit the Cessna
SkyCourier website to learn more about the company’s newest product.
For
Textron Aviation’s latest news, visit the online newsroom.
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the
leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna
and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general
aviation aircraft flying. For more than 90 years, the Textron Aviation
brands have represented unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership
in the industry, offering an unmatched value proposition rooted in the
total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market,
Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business
and general aviation product portfolio in the world through five
principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special
mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military
trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service
organization. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft
in over 143 countries. Its broad range of products include such
best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan
turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by
the industry’s most capable global service network. For more
information, visit www.txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company
that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and
finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and
services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such
as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex,
Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Arctic Cat, Textron
Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks related to reliance on a launch customer, including cancellations or deferrals of orders; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; and demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
