Textron Delivers 500th Caravan EX

Charter operator and freight hauler South Aero was the customer for the 500th Cessna Grand Caravan EX. (Photo: Textron Aviation)

by Jerry Siebenmark AIN

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX utility turboprop single entered service more than six years ago, and Textron Aviation has delivered its 500th copy, the company announced yesterday. Certified in 2013, it is the third variant of the successful Caravan line first introduced in 1986, but with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine that improved its rate of climb by 38 percent over its predecessor.

Accepting the milestone Grand Caravan EX was Albuquerque, New Mexico-based South Aero, a charter and freight hauler that operates five Cessna Caravans and nearly 11 flights a day. “The dependability and load-carrying capability of the Grand Caravan EX allows our fleet to operate for thousands of hours across the continental US,” South Aero owner and CEO Wayne South said. “This is an outstanding aircraft for our operations and a platform that our pilots love to fly.”

The $2.68 million airplane—which includes the optional under-belly cargo pod—can seat up to 14 passengers with a useful load of 3,692 pounds (1,675 kg) and a maximum range of 912 nm.

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Fly Safarilink Adds Brand New Grand Caravan EX

Congratulations to Fly Safarilink on their new 2019 Grand Caravan EX!

After a week long journey from the U.S., the aircraft was met by Yash Desai of Africair Inc. (pictured left), Anu Vohra - Safarilink Marketing Director (pictured center), and Alex Avedi - Safarilink CEO (pictured right), upon arrival at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

As Kenya's premier safari airline, Safarilink provides daily scheduled services to 22 destinations in and around Kenya. The Cessna 208B meets the specific requirements of operating into bush airstrips within Kenya's world famous game parks.

We are proud to add another 208B to Fly Safarilink's growing fleet. Thank you for your continued business and trust in Africair Inc., it is a pleasure to serve you. For more information about Safarilink please visit their website at: https://www.flysafarilink.com/en 


Posted on CaravanNation.com with permission from Africair Inc. If you have an article that you would like us to publish, send requests to info@CaravanNation.com

10 Things You (probably) Did Not Know About the Caravan

Now and then our readers will share with us interesting facts that we did not know about the Cessna Caravan or facts that we do not believe that our average reader would know. This inspired the creation of the list found below. We hope that you enjoy and share with us any other not-so-commonly known facts that you know about the Caravan!

1. Accidentally hitting the Start switch will illuminate the "Generator Off" light.

2. The most common turbo-prop airplane used for skydiving in the world is the Caravan. (For more information about flying skydivers, check out our affiliate site SkydiverDriver.com)

3. The Caravan's firewall was tested to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. The Cessna logo can be seen in the pattern of rivets in front of the co-pilot's door.

5. The Caravan cruises 10 knots faster and 50nm further without the cargo pod installed.

6. If the Torque gauge fails, you can use the Fuel Flow gauge to set power settings: Climb = 400, Cruise = 300 and Approach = 200

7. Single point fuel system is available for the Caravan.

8. You only have 90 seconds of fuel remaining if the red reservoir low light illuminates.

9. Boot activation increases the stall speed by 10 knots.

10. If you accidentally drop your pen in the hole between the rudder pedal and power column, be sure and get it out because it can cause a rudder jam.

Please share your not-so-commonly known facts about the Caravan with us below or by sending them to info@caravannation.com

Information compiled for this article is from the archives of CaravanNation.com and from the book Caravan: Cessna's Swiss Army Knife with Wings.

Mokulele to Add New Routes and Test Electric Hybrid Airplane

Mokulele to Add New Routes and Test Electric Hybrid Airplane

As reported by Beat of Hawaii

Starting June 17, Mokulele Airlines will fly twice daily between Maui and Lanai from $57 each way. That, following the acquisition of Mokulele by Memphis based Southern Airways Express a few months ago.

And the company is looking to expand the Mokulele brand here in Hawaii with more Hawaii inter-island routes later this year.

"When we purchased Mokulele just over 2 and a half months ago, we made a promise to the people of Hawaii that we would bring more aircraft, newer aircraft, more departures and more destinations than this airline has ever served." -- Mokulele Airlines (Southern Airways Express)

Mokulele plans to test a new hybrid aircraft model on their Kahului to Hana Maui route starting this fall. That as a result of a partnership between Mokulele and Ampaire. Ampaire spokesman said, "with a short flight, it shows off the technology and its benefits. Hawaii's focus on sustainability also makes it more aligned with our own vision." He added that potential fuel savings of 50-70% are possible with 25-50% maintenance cost reduction. The company's site says "Ampaire is on a mission to provide the world with all-electric powered commercial flights that are affordable, quiet and environmentally conscious."

If things go well, such planes, carrying up to 9 passengers, could serve longer routes, including between Honolulu and Maui.

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Caravan Flights Into Icing

Caravan Flights Into Icing

by Mari Peterson

As pilots we are trained to exit icing conditions when they present themselves, and as pilots we know that icing conditions are ever-changing. Sometimes the conditions can be exactly right for ice, and you get nothing. Sometimes the opposite. 

The de-ice boots on the Caravan provide some protection for removing ice, but just because an aircraft is approved for flight into icing conditions doesn't mean that you should remain in that environment and continue to accumulate more.

Ice alters the airfoil surface, making us test pilots for a new type of wing shape - therefore the boots are really a tool for exiting an icing situation. The nice part about the Northwest is that the conditions usually change within a few minutes and the situation resolves itself and the short hops between Seattle and the islands sure help too.

Be sure to treat every icing scenario as it's own independent event and to know your indicators and actions: loss of airspeed, autopilot checks etc. Most importantly, have fun and fly safe out there!

This article was written by Mari Peterson. Follow her on Instagram! instagram.com/justplanemari

If you would like to submit an article please email us info@CaravanNation.com

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