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

Textron Aviation Ships Grand Caravan EX to Mack Air

Textron Aviation ships first Grand Caravan EX to Botswana's Mack Air

As reported by Flight Global

Textron Aviation has shipped the first of 10 Cessna Grand Caravan EXs to Botswana charter and utility operator Mack Air. The single-engined turboprop is being ferry flown from the Caravan production plant in Independence, Kansas and should arrive at Mack Air's base in the northern town of Maun by the middle of December.

The aircraft is part of an order, placed in the third quarter of 2017, from Mauritian aircraft leasing company Tuareg Aviation. The remaining EXs are set to arrive in Maun by mid-2018 and will replace Mack Air’s ageing piston-powered fleet.

Mack Air will use the high-wing all-metal type to provide charter, cargo and logistics services between a network of independently owned bush safari lodges in the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Plains regions of Botswana.

Mack Air currently operates a fleet of 22 propeller-driven aircraft including 10 single-engined turboprops – nine earlier iterations of the Grand Caravan and a single Quest Kodiak 100 – along with 12 piston-singles: eight GippsAero GA8 Airvans and a pair each of Cessna 206 Stationairs and 210 Centurions.

The Caravans will be supported by Textron Aviation’s South African partner Absolute Aviation from a new maintenance base in Maun. This facility will complement Absolute’s aircraft parts business, established in the town earlier in 2017.

Flight Fleets Analyzer records a global fleet of more than 2,200 Caravans. In the first nine months of 2017 Textron delivered 55 units – eight 208s and 47 EXs.

CaravanNation.com

New UK Air Taxi Company Waves Technologies Selects Grand Caravan EX

A new air taxi company Waves Technologies, based at Guernsey UK, recently announced that it has selected the Cessna Grand Caravan EX as the aircraft that it will operate between the Channel Islands. The company is about to take delivery of the first of 3 Grand Caravan EX. Their service will commence in August of this year.

On the Waves Technologies website they promise to offer "... affordable, fixed-price flights to Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Northern France, and South England." and "... a service that moves with the times and embraces the fast evolving new technology available to all of us."

The company will be competing with local airlines with competitive pricing and better service.

Textron Aviation, owner of Cessna Aircraft Company, expects many more orders of the Grand Caravan EX in the coming years due to a new European rule allowing commercial air transport companies to use single-engine turboprops in IMC.


CaravanNation.com

Watermakers Air has Added a New Caravan EX to its Fleet

As first reported by World Airline News: Watermakers Air has announced it is adding a Cessna Caravan EX as the newest addition to their fleet of Cessna 208B Grand Caravans. Delivered direct from the Cessna factory, this state of the art Caravan EX will be the newest, most comfortable Caravan available in South Florida. The modern Caravan EX boasts a luxurious cabin our passengers are sure to enjoy, with executive leather seating, a wide aisle, and large windows to savor the beautiful views of the islands. Equipped with the most advanced technology in its class, the EX features the exceptional Garmin G1000 glass cockpit avionics suite. In addition, the larger engine and four-bladed prop allow for a faster cruising speed and provide an ultra-quiet and smooth ride.

Watermakers Air offers comfortable and reliable scheduled air service for both passengers and freight from Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport to 10 Out Island airstrips in the Bahamas. Watermakers Air also offers private charters to destinations of your choice.

Scheduled Passenger and Freight Service to:

Andros (San Andros, Fresh Creek, Congo Town)
Chub Cay
Great Harbour Cay
Eleuthera (North Eleuthera, Rock Sound)
Staniel Cay
Great Exuma
Cat Island (New Bight)
Private Charters to the destination of your choice

Anywhere in the Bahamas or within 500 miles of Ft. Lauderdale
(excluding Haiti and Cuba)

Watermakers Air operates from a private hangar at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE).

All scheduled flights are operated by Exuma Cays Travel, Inc., a Public Charter Operator under the approved U.S. DOT 380 Public Charter Program, prospectus number PC-15-191.

Watermakers Air was formed in 2002 for the specific purpose of flying passengers, as well as freight and supplies. Although the name harkens back to the time when our operation was primarily a support division of Watermakers, Inc., we are now a stand-alone FAA certified public charter operator for both passengers and freight.

All images by Watermakers Air.

Route Map:

CaravanNation.com

Cessna Aircraft sells its 100th Grand Caravan EX!

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced that it has sold its 100th Grand Caravan EX. The latest model received FAA certification in January 2013 and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 which gives it a 38% better rate of climb, a 350 foot shorter take off roll and a 12 knot faster cruise speed.

Photo by Cessna Aircraft Company

The owner of the 100th Caravan EX is Hussain Ali Rashid Almoalla who plans on personally flying it all the way back to Abu Dhabi, a 9000nm trip. 

Mr. Almoalla stated, "I am delighted to add the Cessna Grand Caravan EX to our fleet. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is reliable, efficient and ideal for my needs. My expectations of this aircraft have far been exceeded. I am very impressed with the power it displayed on the first flight, as well as its ease of maintenance, impressive Garmin G1000 avionics and spacious interior. It is abundantly clear I have made the right decision."

I am sure that it will not take Cessna very long to sell its next 100 Grand Caravan EX's. It's an amazing aircraft that has virtually no competition.