Caravan Seaplane Goes Down Near Miami

A seaplane that departed West Palm Beach early Friday afternoon landed on its side in the water near Miami.

CBS News Miami reports seven people were rescued from the small plane after it went down in Government Cut, near the MacArthur Causeway. Footage from its helicopter showed the propeller still spinning as the blue-and-white plane lay on its side.

Everyone on the plane has been evacuated from it and no injuries were reported in the incident.

According to FlightAware, the tail number of the plane showed it took off from Palm Beach International Airport at 1:04 p.m. The page noted it was last seen at 1:37 p.m. near Miami.

CaravanNation.com

Southern Airways Express Caravan Lands on Freeway

 

As reported by NBC Washington

A roadway in Northern Virginia became an airplane’s runway during snowfall Friday. A small airplane with seven people on board made an emergency landing on Loudoun County Parkway, Virginia State Police said and stunning video footage shows.

No one on the plane or on the ground was hurt. Southern Airways Express Flight 246 made its emergency landing at about 12:50 p.m. The plane landed in the southbound lanes of the parkway near Arcola Mills Drive. The area is close to Dulles International Airport.

Jesse Labell said he was driving along Loudon County Parkway when he suddenly saw the plane.

“I look up and the plane’s like 20 feet above me and it lands like 20 feet in front of me. And, just driving, I’m like, ‘Uh, what’s going on?’ So, they go down, they land it. They got squirrely at the end here and crashed into the guardrail. I checked on everybody and saw if they were good,” he said.

Two crew members and five passengers were aboard the plane, Southern Airways confirmed. Police said the passengers were four adults and a 15-year-old boy.

The pilot, a 27-year-old Florida man, was able to safely land the plane on the parkway without hitting any vehicles, a police spokesperson said. The only damage that occurred was to a guardrail on the right side of the parkway, she said.

No one from the plane needed to be taken to a hospital, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue said.

Dulles Airport officials said the small plane took off from the airport and then quickly made an emergency landing on the nearby parkway.

In a statement shared at 1:30 p.m., airport officials said: "Dulles Airport received reports around 12:50pm of a departed aircraft landing off airport property on a nearby roadway. The aircraft was identified as Southern Airways Express flight 246. Responders from Loudoun County are managing the scene, and Dulles Airport remains open for takeoffs and landings."

The southbound lanes of Loudoun County Parkway were closed as police responded to the emergency landing, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said in a social media statement. They reopened about 6 p.m.

Loudoun County Fire & Rescue said there was a crew nearby when the plane landed, so crews were able to respond quickly.

An image shared by VDOT showed traffic stopped and police lights flashing on the roadway as emergency responders handled the situation.

The reasons for the emergency landing were not immediately shared, but winter weather caused traffic havoc around the D.C. area Friday. Conditions had forced a groundstop Friday morning at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington.

State police said the plane was a single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan.

Stan Little, CEO of Southern Airways, released a statement saying: "We are relieved to report there were no injuries, and all passengers are safe and sound. We are thankful to our pilots, who did exactly what they were trained to do -- to put the safety of our passengers first. We are working closely with the authorities to thoroughly investigate the situation, and we will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of our passengers and our fleet."

State police blocked off traffic and are now leading the investigation. Police said both the FAA and NTSB were notified.

CaravanNation.com

Icing Encounter Tips for Cessna Caravan Pilots and Operators

 Operating Tips for an Icing Encounter in the Cessna Caravan 

In the Northern Hemisphere Winter is right around the corner, and with it comes increased chances that the Caravan that you fly will have an icing encounter. Are you familiar with the various steps that you can take to help manage the impact of an icing encounter? Whether you own, fly or manage a Cessna Caravan, we here at Caravan Nation recommend that you, not only read this article, but print and save the below listed operating tips for future reference.

The operating tips listed below are part of the FedEx Caravan Icing Program. A program that you should acknowledge and possibly incorporate it into your own program. 

In the Caravan, like every other airplane, you can help manage the impact of an icing encounter by remembering two general rules: 

A) Keep the airspeed/power up and, 

B) Keep the deck angle/AOA down. 

Additionally we recommend that you consider the following:

1. Make sure that you receive a thorough weather briefing. Know the right questions to ask, and don't hesitate to ask them.

2. Compare frontal movement with the proposed flight path, remember to look well up-wind of your course line to see what kind of weather is approaching your flight path.

3. Pre-flight ALL of the aircraft anti/de-ice systems for proper operation and cycle sequences.

4. Periodically wax areas of the aircraft that are exposed to ice accumulation: e.g.

• Nose wheel fairings & accessories (not the shock)
• Engine cowling
• Cargo pod
• Wing-strut/wing-joint area including tie-down hook
• Main landing gear dressing including brake-pad housing, but not the brake-disk
• Gurney-strip of the trailing edge of the flaps
• Left & right outer elevator horn

5. Exercise self-discipline and try to envision ALL possible "What if (s)" that might be encountered during the initial take-off and climb in icing conditions.

6. Use of flaps for take-off should be carefully evaluated when icing is anticipated during departure.

7. Remember... snow, slush, or water standing on the runway will greatly increase the required take-off distance, as well as landing roll. Be particularly careful when a take-off is being conducted. Slow acceleration to liftoff speed followed by an ABORT will require considerably more runway. Therefore, where a choice can be made, pick the longest runway for both take-off and landing.

8. After take-off, increase speed to 110-115 kts as quickly as possible. This will help keep ice formation on the protected areas of the aircraft. Continue to climb with a minimum deck-angle.

9. At airports where SIDs are used, pick a direction of departure which has the lowest climb-gradient. Once you are at a safe altitude you can then proceed to your destination.

10. Constantly monitor & assess the icing situation of your aircraft. Be particularly alert to OAT changes during the climb. Observing the OAT during your climb to altitude can provide clues which could save your life.

11. Consider not using the auto-pilot when operating in ice. This is not to imply that the auto-pilot is not approved for ice operation, but that a pilot can not possibly know how the aircraft is FEELING if the auto-pilot is engaged.

12. When encountering icing and the airspeed begins to drop below 130 KIAS, MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER e.g. 1865# torque/805 C ITT (675 HP) as applicable, should be used.

13. De-ice boots are more effective at higher airspeeds. At lower speeds effectiveness may be improved by SMOOTHLY changing the pitch attitude as the boots are being MANUALLY inflated which will allow the changing relative wind to assist in removing the ice from the wing leading edge.

14. A vibration may occur as ice starts to build on the propeller hub and the back side of the blade near the hub. Under extreme conditions the vibration may continue to increase the the point where the instrument panel begins to shake. In conditions of MODERATE and above accumulation rates, the automatic propeller anti-ice system may not be sufficient to keep the propeller clear of ice. Under these conditions, consider using the MANUAL propeller anti-ice feature and briskly cycling the prop between the maximum and minimum RPM (minimum 200 RPM change) to assist in removing the ice.

15. Don't keep flying into deteriorating conditions. Have a plan, e.g. climb, descend or turn to get to less severe conditions if it become necessary. KEEP YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE. DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO RUN OUT OF OPTIONS!

16. Communicate your situation with ATC. Keep them advised of your icing problems. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Failing to use all of the resources at your disposal is sellling yourself short. DON'T LET A MACHO ATTITUDE OVERLOAD YOUR BOAT!

17. Monitor the terminal approach frequency while you are still in the enroute portion. This will allow you to listen-in on any problems other pilots may be encountering while in their attempt to land. During the approach keep your air-speed at least 15-20 knots higher than normal. Stall speed increases with ice accumulation.

18. Do not cycle the boots during landing since boot inflation may increase stall speeds by as much as 10 knots.

19. Fly the aircraft down-to-the-ground, do not attempt a normal flare-out to a stalled landing.

If you have any questions about this article, use the contact form on  CaravanNation.com 

Always remember to... "Never stop learning. Review often and never get complacent so that you can continue to fly safely!"

AirNationGroup.com

Surf Air Mobility Orders 150 Cessna Caravan EX to Electrify

TEXTRON AVIATION ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR UP TO 150 CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN EX AIRCRAFT TO AID SURF AIR MOBILITY IN ACCELERATING ELECTRIFIED COMMERCIAL TRAVEL

WICHITA, Kan. — July 20, 2021 — Textron Aviation today announced Surf Air Mobility Inc., has signed a purchase agreement for up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprop aircraft, with an initial fleet order of 100 aircraft and an option for 50 more. The order, which is subject to Surf Air Mobility obtaining financing, is part of an exclusive relationship between the two companies supporting Surf Air Mobility’s development of electrified Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, beginning with a hybrid electric Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft powered by Surf Air Mobility’s proprietary powertrain technology.   

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.

 

Textron Aviation’s initial deliveries of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to Surf Air Mobility, a company accelerating the adoption of electric regional air travel, are expected to begin in Q2 2022. Surf Air anticipates that its hybrid electric system for the Grand Caravan, upon certification, will power a 9-seat variant of the iconic single-engine turboprop.

Hybrid electric propulsion technology, deployed at scale for environmental and commercial benefits, is an important part of the future of travel. Ron Draper, President & CEO, Textron Aviation

“Hybrid electric propulsion technology, deployed at scale for environmental and commercial benefits, is an important part of the future of travel,” said Ron Draper, President & CEO, Textron Aviation. “This relationship with Surf Air Mobility leverages the unique performance capabilities of the Cessna Grand Caravan in both passenger and cargo operations and continues to demonstrate the aircraft’s adaptability for innovative missions and configurations.”

 

The hybrid electric Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft is anticipated to be utilized by Surf Air Mobility across its own network, connecting more airports with short-haul direct service across the U.S. on a path to creating a regional mass transport platform to sustainably connect communities.

 

“This is an opportunity to showcase the combined expertise and technologies of both Textron Aviation and Surf Air Mobility,” said Rob Scholl, senior vice president, Textron eAviation. “The outstanding capabilities and versatility of the Grand Caravan make it an ideal aircraft to take advantage of this new technology.”

 

“The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is one of the most adaptable and prolific aircraft in flight today. Through this exclusive relationship with Textron Aviation, we’re able to make electrified aircraft broadly available to existing and new operators, and bring the benefits of lower cost, lower emission air travel to customers faster and at scale,” said Sudhin Shahani, Co-founder, CEO & Executive Chairman, Surf Air Mobility. “We believe electrifying the Cessna Grand Caravan is the most significant step that can be made toward reduced emission flying with the quickest path to market.”

 

The transactions between Textron Aviation and Surf Air Mobility are subject to certain closing conditions, including the receipt of financing by Surf Air Mobility.

For more Caravan News visit CaravanNation.com

Operating Tips for an Icing Encounter in the Cessna Caravan

Operating Tips for an Icing Encounter in the Cessna Caravan 

In the Northern Hemisphere Winter is right around the corner, and with it comes increased chances that the Caravan that you fly will have an icing encounter. Are you familiar with the various steps that you can take to help manage the impact of an icing encounter? Whether you own, fly or manage a Cessna Caravan, we here at Caravan Nation recommend that you, not only read this article, but print and save the below listed operating tips for future reference.

The operating tips listed below are part of the FedEx Caravan Icing Program. A program that you should acknowledge and possibly incorporate it into your own program. 

In the Caravan, like every other airplane, you can help manage the impact of an icing encounter by remembering two general rules: 

A) Keep the airspeed/power up and, 

B) Keep the deck angle/AOA down. 

Additionally we recommend that you consider the following:

1. Make sure that you receive a thorough weather briefing. Know the right questions to ask, and don't hesitate to ask them.

2. Compare frontal movement with the proposed flight path, remember to look well up-wind of your course line to see what kind of weather is approaching your flight path.

3. Pre-flight ALL of the aircraft anti/de-ice systems for proper operation and cycle sequences.

4. Periodically wax areas of the aircraft that are exposed to ice accumulation: e.g.

• Nose wheel fairings & accessories (not the shock)
• Engine cowling
• Cargo pod
• Wing-strut/wing-joint area including tie-down hook
• Main landing gear dressing including brake-pad housing, but not the brake-disk
• Gurney-strip of the trailing edge of the flaps
• Left & right outer elevator horn

5. Exercise self-discipline and try to envision ALL possible "What if (s)" that might be encountered during the initial take-off and climb in icing conditions.

6. Use of flaps for take-off should be carefully evaluated when icing is anticipated during departure.

7. Remember... snow, slush, or water standing on the runway will greatly increase the required take-off distance, as well as landing roll. Be particularly careful when a take-off is being conducted. Slow acceleration to liftoff speed followed by an ABORT will require considerably more runway. Therefore, where a choice can be made, pick the longest runway for both take-off and landing.

8. After take-off, increase speed to 110-115 kts as quickly as possible. This will help keep ice formation on the protected areas of the aircraft. Continue to climb with a minimum deck-angle.

9. At airports where SIDs are used, pick a direction of departure which has the lowest climb-gradient. Once you are at a safe altitude you can then proceed to your destination.

10. Constantly monitor & assess the icing situation of your aircraft. Be particularly alert to OAT changes during the climb. Observing the OAT during your climb to altitude can provide clues which could save your life.

11. Consider not using the auto-pilot when operating in ice. This is not to imply that the auto-pilot is not approved for ice operation, but that a pilot can not possibly know how the aircraft is FEELING if the auto-pilot is engaged.

12. When encountering icing and the airspeed begins to drop below 130 KIAS, MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS POWER e.g. 1865# torque/805 C ITT (675 HP) as applicable, should be used.

13. De-ice boots are more effective at higher airspeeds. At lower speeds effectiveness may be improved by SMOOTHLY changing the pitch attitude as the boots are being MANUALLY inflated which will allow the changing relative wind to assist in removing the ice from the wing leading edge.

14. A vibration may occur as ice starts to build on the propeller hub and the back side of the blade near the hub. Under extreme conditions the vibration may continue to increase the the point where the instrument panel begins to shake. In conditions of MODERATE and above accumulation rates, the automatic propeller anti-ice system may not be sufficient to keep the propeller clear of ice. Under these conditions, consider using the MANUAL propeller anti-ice feature and briskly cycling the prop between the maximum and minimum RPM (minimum 200 RPM change) to assist in removing the ice.

15. Don't keep flying into deteriorating conditions. Have a plan, e.g. climb, descend or turn to get to less severe conditions if it become necessary. KEEP YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE. DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO RUN OUT OF OPTIONS!

16. Communicate your situation with ATC. Keep them advised of your icing problems. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Failing to use all of the resources at your disposal is sellling yourself short. DON'T LET A MACHO ATTITUDE OVERLOAD YOUR BOAT!

17. Monitor the terminal approach frequency while you are still in the enroute portion. This will allow you to listen-in on any problems other pilots may be encountering while in their attempt to land. During the approach keep your air-speed at least 15-20 knots higher than normal. Stall speed increases with ice accumulation.

18. Do not cycle the boots during landing since boot inflation may increase stall speeds by as much as 10 knots.

19. Fly the aircraft down-to-the-ground, do not attempt a normal flare-out to a stalled landing.

If you have any questions about this article, use the contact form on  CaravanNation.com 

Always remember to... "Never stop learning. Review often and never get complacent so that you can continue to fly safely!"

AirNationGroup.com

 

Another AC-208 Eliminator on the Assembly Line

According to our sources there is currently another Grand Caravan EX that is being converted by Northrup Grumman Systems Corp. (El Sugundo, California) to an AC-208 "Eliminator" Armed Caravan. The AC-208 is 1 of 8 aircraft that are in Northrup Grumman's Special Mission portfolio of aircraft. The other aircraft in that line-up are the Alenia C-27J, CASA CN-235/295, Lockheed C-130, Bombardier Dash-8, Beechcraft King Air, Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk and the AgustaWestland AW139.

According to Northrup Grumman, "The AC-208 Eliminator builds on Northrup Grumman's battle-proven AC-208 Armed Caravan and offers customers a highly-capable and cost-effective reconnaissance and ground attack capability with a critical offensive and operational over-watch capability in the Counter-Insurgency (COIN) fight. The Eliminator is able to find, fix, identify, track, target and engage emerging and time-sensitive targets with its 2.75" guided rockets and/or AGM-114 HELLFIRE missile payload, based on mission requirements."

These unique Caravans have or will be delivered to countries in the Middle East and Africa including these countries: Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.


 ~ Chris Rosenfelt


CaravanNation.com

Startup Commuter FLOAT to use Caravans in Southern California

Flight Global reporting

A startup company in Southern California which hopes to revolutionize the daily commute will launch service in the coming days and plans to offer full air-based commuting schedules from up to 40 regional airports beginning in January.

FLOAT – which stands for “Fly Over All Traffic” – will offer air taxi services to what it calls “supercommuters” in the region. The company plans to operate a fleet of nine Cessna Caravans to what it calls “underused” regional and general aviation airports across the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, renowned for their ground-based traffic problems.

Source: FLOAT

FLOAT Cessna Caravan over Los Angeles

 The company says it has agreements with almost 40 airports, including Hollywood Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and Palm Springs Airport. It is partnering with Pompano Beach, Florida-based operator Southern Airways Express for its planes and crews.

FLOAT executives say its target customer is a commuter who drives 50 miles or more in each direction, which, depending on the time of day and the traffic flow, can take more than two hours on the region’s congested highways.

“FLOAT is shattering the myth that sitting in hours of traffic every day is a necessary and unavoidable way of life in Southern California,” FLOAT co-founder and chief executive Arnel Guiang says. “We live in a rapidly-evolving society of intense time management and instant gratification, and business professionals and their superiors are quickly realizing that spending hours in traffic is cutting into their productivity and work/life balance.”

The company says pricing and routes will vary, but it estimates the cost of a one-way flight could be as low as $30. It is offering monthly subscription packages on selected routes for $1,250, which encompasses roundtrip service five days a week.

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.

Wishing the Nation a Wonderful and Safe 2019!

This past year was a great one for us here at Caravan Nation and we are very excited about the changes and upgrades that we will be making to the site in 2019! The site was updated once this year and is in the process again in a couple weeks, making it more mobile device friendly. 

We received an endorsement from Textron Aviation and approval to publish their Cessna Caravan articles and stories. We surpassed 100K followers on Social Media. Our new Service and Parts page will be up within 2 weeks with the page sponsor being Western Aircraft. Visit them for all of your Caravan parts needs. 

Please email us if there is anything that you would like to see added to the site.

Thank you ALL for choosing us as your go to site for ALL THINGS CARAVAN! Let's have a wonderful and safe 2019!


CaravanNation.com

MagniX Has a Successful Test of Electric Motor for the Caravan

As reported by Flyer:

A US/Australian company has successfully tested a new 350hp electric motor on an ‘Ironbird’ ground test rig.

MagniX is now planning to scale up the power unit to 750hp for use on a Cessna Caravan, replacing the standard Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine. MagniX is going for an all-electric platform, saying that its 50kg motor produces 5 kilowatts of power per kilogram of weight.

German rival Siemens has produced a similarly powerful unit also putting out 5kw/kg, and is aiming for 10kw/kg within two years.

MagniX was founded nine years ago in Australia and recently moved its headquarters to Redmond, Washington, US. New CEO Roei Ganzarski said MagniX’s motor should cost roughly the same as the Pratt & Whitney PT6, while improving operating costs by 40% to 60% – electricity being cheaper than the Jet A1 fuel that the PT6 burns.

Ganzarski says MagniX’s motor will allow loaded Caravan to fly up to 105 miles, using existing lithium-ion battery technology. That range could increase to 250 miles within a few years as battery technology improves.

CaravanNation.com

Featured Caravan Pilot: Chezka with Air Juan Aviation

Meet our latest Featured Caravan pilot Chezka, a pilot with Air Juan Aviation! Air Juan started as a private charter company in 2012. It is the first Commercial Seaplane operator in the Philippines with bases in Manila, Cebu and Puerto Princesa and flights to 16 different beautiful destinations!

Chezka loves flying and is definitely an inspiration to many female pilots around the world. Read her answers to our questions below.

Name: Chezka
Age: 24
From: Manila, Philippines

Total Time: 850

Company: Air Juan Aviation

Location: Cebu, Philippines

Years flying Caravans: 1+

What do you like most about flying the Caravan? 

I find the Caravan really aviator-friendly. It'll surely be on the list of your favorites once you get the hang of it. AirJuan, for one is an astounding company which caters local flights that provide adventure feels and personalized service. A real fit for an archipelago like the Philippines. Some of our routes are short but sincerely scenic. Truly, flying with AirJuan is a journey itself!! We even fly you to remote destinations which would satisfy your wanderlust!!

What are your career goals?

Right now I'm just really enjoying to fly inter island trips and I really appreciate taking things one step at a time just as how I do not neglect use of checklists in the aircraft lol! Let the wind take its flow and my career would course through it, I suppose.

What is your advice for younger pilots?

For the aspiring pilots out there, strike whilst the iron is hot! Let your passion roar like the engines of an airplane. Turn your energy into productivity and the reward would be all worth it. I'm telling you, it only gets better and the learning process is fun so do not falter, keep your head up and keep inspired!! 

For more information on Air Juan, visit their site airjuan.com

CaravanNation.com your source for All Things Caravan!