Textron Aviation has achieved a significant milestone recently as it announced the delivery of a Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Brazilian aviation company Azul Conecta, a subsidiary of Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras based at Comte. Rolim Adolfo Amaro State Airport in São Paulo. The delivered aircraft represented the 3,000th Cessna Caravan family turboprop delivered worldwide, reinforcing the Caravan as the most popular utility turboprop worldwide.

The turboprop that delivers its promises

Azul Conecta was established in 2013, and the domestic carrier houses more than 20 Cessna aircraft, enabling it to transport travelers from smaller cities and remote locations throughout Brazil. But why does Azul Conecta choose the Cessna Caravan turboprop? The answer lies in how the aircraft is conceived as a rugged utility aircraft with low operating costs.

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The Caravan was designed for use in remote areas with extreme weather changes, mountainous terrain, and rough landing conditions. The aircraft’s versatility became renowned worldwide, and it continues to see wide use in global markets by various customers, including government agencies, law enforcement, militaries, air ambulance operators, freight haulers, corporations, and humanitarian organizations.

Through the addition of even more Cessna turboprops, it's evident that Azul Conecta is more than satisfied with how the aircraft has been delivering its promises, as confirmed by Flavio Costa, Chief Technical Officer of Azul and the President of Azul Conecta:

"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. As a longtime Textron Aviation customer with a fleet of over 25 Cessna aircraft, we are happy to be a part of this important milestone.”

Notable milestones for the Cessna Caravan

Since being launched more than four decades ago in 1981 until having 3,000 aircraft delivered in 2023, the Cessna Caravan program has achieved significant milestones throughout its long, ongoing history. In 1982, the first flight of the Caravan 208 prototype took off, although it would only be two years later, in 1984, when it received Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification. But once certified, the program was not held back as Cessna began deliveries the following year in 1985.

Within the same year, Cessna also obtained the approval for the Caravan 208 to have amphibious floats to produce the Caravan Amphibian. And when fast-forwarded 13 years later, in 1998, Cessna would have delivered the 1,000th Caravan 208. But within these 13 years, the manufacturer continued to expand the Cessna Caravan program by introducing the Caravan 208B Super Cargomaster and the Grand Caravan 208B.

Eventually, the Cessna Caravan program would reach its latest expansion through the introduction of the Grand Caravan EX 208B. The aircraft was certified in December 2012 and was fitted with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, which was developed specifically for the aircraft. Deliveries of this aircraft began the following year in 2013, and it had become a hot favorite even till this year when Azul Conecta became the latest airline customer to receive it.

• 

  Azul

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AD/AZU

  Airline Type:

  Low-Cost Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Belo Horizonte International Airport, Sao Paulo Viracopos International Airport, Recife/Guararapes International Airport

  Year Founded:

  2008

  CEO:

  John Rodgerson

  Country:

  Brazil

  Region:

  South America