Textron Aviation has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Azul Conecta, a Brazilian aviation company. The aircraft is the 3,000th Cessna Caravan family turboprop to be delivered worldwide.
Azul Conecta is a subsidiary of Azul Airlines based at the airport of Jundiai in São Paulo, Brazil. It transports travellers from smaller cities and remote locations throughout Brazil.
Textron Aviation employees and representatives from Azul Conecta celebrated this milestone with a special delivery ceremony at Textron Aviation’s location in Independence, Kansas.
“The Cessna Caravan’s versatility and reliability have made it the most popular aircraft in the utility turboprop category, with now 3,000 delivered globally,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of sales and flight operations at Textron Aviation. “I’m thankful to customers like Azul Conecta who continuously rely on the Caravan family of aircraft to fulfil their missions, deliver solutions and improve lives around the world.”
Conceived as a rugged utility aircraft with low operating costs, the Caravan was designed for use in remote areas with extreme weather changes, mountainous terrain and rough landing conditions. The aircraft continues to see wide use in global markets by a variety of customers, including government agencies, law enforcement and militaries, air ambulance operators, freight haulers, corporations and humanitarian organisations.
“This Grand Caravan EX will proudly fly the Brazilian skies and connect our 158 destinations, many of which are made possible by the aircraft’s utility and flexibility,” said Flavio Costa, chief technical officer of Azul and president of Azul Conecta. “As a long-time Textron Aviation customer with a fleet of over 25 Cessna aircraft, we are happy to be a part of this important milestone.”
Customers can choose between four models of the Cessna Caravan aircraft: the Caravan 208, the Grand Caravan EX 208B, the Caravan Amphibian and the Grand Caravan EX Amphibian.
Cessna Caravan programme milestones
1981: Cessna launches the Caravan programme.
1982: First flight of Caravan 208 prototype.
1984: Caravan 208 receives FAA type certification.
1985: Cessna begins deliveries of the Caravan 208; Caravan 208 approved for amphibious floats.
1986: Caravan 208B Super Cargomaster, stretched by 4ft (1.2m) in a freight-specific configuration, receives FAA type certification.
1990: First production Grand Caravan 208B delivery.
1998: Delivery of 1,000th production Caravan 208; Cessna begins deliveries of the new standard Caravan 208, a Caravan 208 that features a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A engine rated at 675-shaft horsepower.
2002: Delivery of 1,000th Grand Caravan 208B.
2005: Delivery of 1,500th production Cessna 208.
2008: Garmin G1000 becomes standard avionics equipment; TKS ice protection offered.
2013: Cessna begins deliveries of Grand Caravan EX 208B, featuring a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine rated at 867-shaft horsepower.
2017: G1000 NXi becomes standard on Caravan and Grand Caravan EX.
2022: Delivery of 3,000th Caravan, a Grand Caravan EX, to Azul Conecta.
