Mack Air, based at Maun in Botswana, is expecting delivery of 10 Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprops. The Grand Caravans will provide charter, cargo and logistic services between a network of independently owned bush safari lodges in the popular Okavango Delta and Kalahari Plains regions of Botswana and will partially replace Mack Air's current fleet, which includes some Grand Caravans.

“Our business relies on versatile aircraft that not only operate in harsh environments, but also transport our passengers comfortably, along with the necessary cargo required to sustain our clients' safari lodges,” says operations manager Mike Weyl. “The Caravan platform has served us well, and we look forward to enhancing our business with this reliable and modernised Grand Caravan EX fleet.”

Textron Aviation VP of sales for Africa Lannie O'Bannion adds: “The Caravan platform continues to prove its incredible reliability in challenging environments. It offers the performance and cargo capabilities commuter operators desire while providing comfort and cabin features.”

Absolute Aviation, a Textron Aviation authorised service centre and dealership based in South Africa, will provide maintenance support for the aircraft from a maintenance facility in Maun. An addition to its existing aircraft parts business that was established earlier in 2017, Absolute Aviation's Maun facility will include a hangar and aircraft engineers.