Cessna Caravan flight deck to feature cockpit advancements, enhancing flight experience for pilots

WICHITA, Kan. (July 22, 2024) — Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced significant enhancements to its legendary Cessna Caravan and Cessna Grand Caravan EX utility turboprop aircraft. A brighter, modernized flight deck with new backlit panels, along with other amenities designed to elevate the pilot experience, are the direct result of continuous conversations with customers. The enhancements, which are expected to be available in 2025, will be standard on all new Caravan and Grand Caravan EX aircraft.

“The enhancements to the Cessna Caravan flight deck demonstrate our continued commitment to providing the best possible flight experience for our customers,” said Christopher Crow, vice president, Piston and Utility Sales. “Our ongoing investments in this family of aircraft continues to build on the Caravan’s nearly 40-year history of success as the utility aircraft of choice for customers around the world.”

One of the most notable changes to both aircraft is the all-new black cockpit panels, creating a more contemporary appearance. The Caravan will also have Electroluminescent Lighting panels to match current Grand Caravan EX models, providing additional backlight for greater visibility in dimly lit environments.

Other enhancements to the Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX include:

• A wider cockpit boarding ladder for easier access to the captain’s side of the aircraft
• Four circular, adjustable air nozzles to replace the previous two rectangular cockpit air vents
• Two USB-C charging ports to replace the 12V power adapter on the lower center pedestal of the cockpit

• Two USB-C charging ports on the right-hand subpanel for the copilot

• Standard power headset jacks (LEMO plugs) alongside the existing General Aviation plugs, offering operators greater flexibility in powering active noise cancelling headsets

• Headset hooks underneath the cockpit glareshield

The Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX are versatile, highly practical aircraft used for a wide range of global missions. The Caravan family of aircraft has provided dependable service around the world for nearly four decades.

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries with nearly 24 million flight hours amassed worldwide since the aircraft was introduced. Caravans fulfill roles for a multitude of missions, ranging from flight training to recreation, commuter airlines to VIP transport, cargo carriers and humanitarian missions. The Grand Caravan EX aircraft is known for its dependable and efficient performance by regional airlines, charter operators, cargo carriers and special missions operators worldwide. The aircraft offers an impressive output of 867 horsepower and a rate of climb of 1,275 feet per minute.

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We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com | www.defense.txtav.com | www.scorpionjet.com. 

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

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