Avanti? GAMA shows no deliveries in 2020, so it is effectively dead.


Cessna SkyCourier is a new twin turboprop.

GAMA stats show 62 multiengine turboprops delivered in 2020. All of them were King Airs.

Mike C.

I think a 501 or a 550 is an excellent choice for this mission.

People know I bleed Beechcraft blue, but one possible solution is to stay put with what you have. Lease a Caravan for 12 months. It will reduce the downtime woes of the 90 and be a proof of concept for the SETP.

(You can put a pretty jazzy interior in a 208)

Once you know where you are going - either convert to 208 fleet or modernize your C90’s with Blackhawk And Raisbeck - etc.

If technicians are a problem, I think you could get an evaluation from Paul Sneden and see what can be done to reduce ops costs. With a fleet like you have you should be able to entice a really good tech(s) to your part of the world. Quality of life there is great.

Not with 5000’ contaminated runways.

With those conditions this screams turboprop.

Brad

I would not go to a slower aircraft, it would take away from the productivity of those on board.

King Air is the right machine if two engines are required. PC12 would be my choice if you can get past the veto. Any kind of jet will cost you more. Even my Citation Mustang costs that much per hour at low altitudes, and that’s figuring zero expense for the pilot. Bigger Citation including legacy will cost you more. Turboprop was made for this mission.

The right answer is either modernize your C90’s with Blackhawk And Raisbeck - etc. or get new King Air 200s or a combination of both.

It sounds like many of your passengers are not aviation savvy. So they want 2 pilots, 2 engines and pressurization. Talk about single engine won’t cut it.

Non pilots like jets better, but for the short trips and contaminated runways, which are sometimes not very long, the turboprops are a better choice.

Not with 5000’ contaminated runways.

Night time with weather in the mountains and you need to go……all singles disqualified.
Perception and piece of mind matter.

Hire a good mechanic and stockpile some parts and keep whatcha got.
Maybe trade out one for a 200.

You could buy one nice 200 then refurbish all C90’s one by one and probably come out pretty sweet

Any jet will make your KA costs seem cheap.

Your docs and pilots all have KA familiarity and they are robust machines. Upgrade what you have, buy newer ones or move to the 200 series.

No one is going to be happy with any other choice.

MU2's are great machines but you'll never get them past the OWT's, etc. Waste of time to discuss.

I love the P180 and they've been proven in medical missions in Europe. But you won't save money moving to them and your team is already familiar with KA's. Makes sense to stay there.

The PC12 is the logical choice and many doctor groups fly them. But your guys say no SE and despite the fact that they'rd docs and don't know what they're talking about in terms of aviation safety you'll swim uphill and beat your head against a wall. Upgrade KA's are a simpler choice.

I love the TBM but I wouldn't argue that they are a better choice for the missions and conditions described. They aren't. Plus they are single engine.

Commaders, C441's? Are you seriously kidding me? You aren't going to fly them for less than a KA. They aren't more robust or capable. They are certainly old. Stay KA.

Piston? No way. I can't believe anyone would seriously suggest them.

Stay with a KA version with upgraded engines and avionics. $1250/hr is cheap for what you get. Tell the docs to get over it or drive.

I don’t see any reason to “upgrade” anything other than the mx side of the equation a bit.

Yes, you need mechanic on payroll and $500k in spares. Blackhawk… meh. You don’t need faster airplanes you just need faster mechanics

As much as I like the MU2, even setting aside the insurance issues, trying to assemble a standard fleet will be difficult.

Would a 200 (or 300) allow you to have one airframe do the work of 2?

New airplane that can haul 3-5 passengers..... Perfect for short hops...... Chute, I can think of a contender....

Except for the part about wanting 2 engines. Night time, rugged, rural.... You want another engine to get you to an airport, not parachuting down into mountainous country in a snowstorm.

Not to mention it uses a lot of runway and have no TRs. My legacy V will use less runway. With ice on the runway, the SF50 is a non starter.

It is also $3M and long lead time.

Mike C.