Textron Aviation announced today that it delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Azul Conecta, a subsidiary of Azul Airlines based at Jundiai Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. The aircraft represents the 3,000th turboprop in the Cessna Caravan family delivered worldwide.
Textron Aviation employees and Azul Conecta representatives celebrated this important milestone with a special delivery ceremony at the company’s facility in Independence, Kansas.
«This Grand Caravan EX will proudly take to the Brazilian skies and connect our 158 destinations, many of which are made possible by the aircraft’s utility and flexibility,» said Flavio Costa, Azul’s chief technical officer and president of Azul Conecta.
Azul Conecta is Azul Airlines’ latest venture, to transport travelers and cargo from smaller cities and remote locations throughout Brazil. It currently has more than 25 Cessna Caravans in its fleet, connecting 71 remote destinations to larger cities in Brazil.
«The versatility and reliability of the Cessna Caravan have made it the most popular aircraft in the utility turboprop category, with 3,000 delivered worldwide,» said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of Sales and Flight Operations at Textron Aviation.
According to the manufacturer, the Caravan program was launched in 1981 as an all-terrain aircraft with low operating costs, allowing it to operate in extreme climates, mountainous terrain and difficult landing conditions. The versatility of the model allowed for diverse operators around the world, mainly in geographically challenging regions, also very diverse as government agencies, law enforcement and military, air ambulance operators, cargo carriers, corporations and humanitarian organizations.
Customers can currently choose from four Cessna Caravan aircraft models: Caravan 208, Grand Caravan EX 208B, Caravan Amphibian and Grand Caravan EX Amphibian, including cargo versions.
