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Cessna SkyCourier gains global status with type certification in the Philippines Page 1

Cessna SkyCourier gains global status with type certification in the Philippines Page 1

Textron Aviation today announced that the Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop has received type certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), expanding the aircraft’s capabilities to support operations in remote areas of Southeast Asia. The first SkyCourier in the region – a 19-seat passenger variant – is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2025 to Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR), a wholly owned subsidiary of ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative in the Philippines.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821639237/en/

Textron Aviation | Cessna SkyCourier (Photo: Business Wire)

Textron Aviation | Cessna SkyCourier (Photo: Business Wire)

The Cessna SkyCourier is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.

“Demand for SkyCourier continues to grow in the APAC region due to the aircraft’s outstanding performance and reliability,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations for Textron Aviation. “SkyCourier offers maximum cabin flexibility with low operating costs and has quickly proven to be an excellent business tool for customers and their missions. We are excited to celebrate this exciting milestone for the program.”

With the ability to be operated by a single pilot and also equipped with a generous payload capacity, the SkyCourier is an ideal solution for air cargo, passenger and special mission needs. The aircraft is highly adaptable and can easily change configurations to effectively complete almost any mission, supporting a significant return on investment. The aircraft also has the capabilities to support a wide range of operational activities in remote areas.

ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, the largest cooperative in the Philippines, serves members of the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other uniformed personnel. Members include active duty, retirees, reservists, AFP civilian employees, and other uniformed personnel and their dependents. LEASCOR was established in 2016 as the air charter arm of the cooperative.

“We are excited to connect underserved communities in the Philippines with the new 19-seater SkyCourier turboprop, which will complement our current fleet,” said Major General Gilbert S. Llanto, Chairman of ACDI MPC. “It will definitely boost our tourism, agri-food, aviation, mobility and construction industries across the archipelago.”