Cessna developed the Caravan and Grand Caravan for the harshest flying conditions imaginable. Cessna introduced the Caravan in 1984 to fill the need of cargo and passenger operators serving communities only accessible via unimproved airports. The Caravan can carry over 1,000 pounds of full-fuel payload and manage 2,000 feet takeoff roll. The Caravan created opportunity for medevac, humanitarian and cargo operators to serve communities with greater resources than ever before.

Although the Caravan is not often considered an executive airplane, many buyers are converting the cabin to luxury configurations. Companies that serve remote areas have found that a Caravan is the perfect solution for transporting valuable team members to and from the field. Passenger carriage is somewhat limited since the cabin is not pressurized – requiring passengers to wear oxygen or fly at lower altitudes.

The Caravan comes in a variety of configurations including float-plane, cargo and executive. There are also an equal number of engine choices ranging from the original 675 SHP PT6A-114 to the upgraded Blackhawk CP42 engine producing 850 SHP. The Caravan can also be a great transition to turboprop aircraft with its simplistic operation and handling coupled with an operating cost less than many piston multi engines.