Textron Aviation is to introduce an electrically driven air conditioning system as a standard feature on all new production Beechcraft King Air 360 aircraft. This new feature provides cooled air throughout the cabin while the aircraft is on the ground and in flight, enhancing passenger and crew comfort. Deliveries with the new air conditioning system are expected to begin in the coming months.

“The new system for the King Air 360 represents our continued investment in an already iconic product,” says senior vice president for sales and flight operations Lannie O'Bannion. “Last year we brought all new interiors and enhancements to the cockpit, and now we are bringing more amenities and comfort to the passengers and crew ahead of each flight.”

The new electric air conditioning system is built into the structure of the aircraft and it does not impact any cabin space. The system can operate without the aircraft engines running by plugging into a ground power unit (GPU). It offers an environmentally friendly solution by cooling the cabin without the use of the aircraft engines.

Introduced in 2020, the King Air 360 cockpit features the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense autothrottle. The autothrottle supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo by automatically managing engine power from the take off roll through the climb, cruise, descent and go-around phases of flight. The cockpit includes a digital pressurisation controller that automatically schedules cabin pressurisation during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort.

The aircraft has a cabin altitude that is 10 per cent lower at 35,000 ft when compared to the King Air 350i. The cabin altitude level provides greater comfort for passengers, especially during longer flights.

The cabin features stunning custom-built cabinetry, partitions and side ledges, along with a selection of interior schemes. Other amenities that come standard on the entire King Air line up include pull-out work tables, standard power outlets, USB charging stations and a private aft lavatory.

More than 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 64 million flight hours in its 58 years, serving roles in all branches of the US military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world.