Textron Aviation on January 13 announced it has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Brazilian aviation company Azul Conecta, a subsidiary of Azul Airlines based at the airport of Jundiai in São Paulo.

This aircraft represents the 3,000th Cessna Caravan family turboprop delivered worldwide. Azul Conecta transports travelers from smaller cities and remote locations throughout Brazil. Textron Aviation employees and representatives from Azul Conecta celebrated this significant 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.

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’s versatility became renowned in all corners of the world, and the Caravan 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 organizations.

“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 longtime 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, including: the Caravan 208, the Grand Caravan EX 208B, the Caravan Amphibian and the Grand Caravan EX Amphibian.

Cessna Caravan program milestones
1981 – Cessna launched the Caravan program
1982 – First flight of Caravan 208 prototype
1984 – Caravan 208 received FAA type certification
1985 – Cessna began deliveries of the Caravan 208
1985 – Caravan 208 approved for amphibious floats
1986 – Caravan 208B Super Cargomaster, stretched by four feet in a freight specific configuration, received FAA type certification
1990 – First production Grand Caravan 208B delivered
1998 – Delivery of 1,000th production Caravan 208
1998 – Cessna began 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
2008 – TKS ice protection offered
2013 – Cessna began 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 – 3,000th Caravan, a Grand Caravan EX, delivered to Azul Conecta

(Photo: Textron Aviation)