Air Marshall Islands in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has taken delivery of a 19-passenger Cessna SkyCourier. The aircraft is equipped with the optional passenger-to-freighter conversion kit, enabling it to transition between full passenger and full cargo configurations. The delivery marks a significant milestone in strengthening essential air service across the country.

With communities comprised of widely dispersed islands, regional air service plays an important role in supporting commerce, travel and vital freight transport in the region. The SkyCourier’s flexible cabin configurations and strong runway performance will help AMI streamline inter-island services.

“Built with customer needs and operational efficiency at the forefront, the Cessna SkyCourier provides a dependable platform to support consistent, day-to-day operations,” states Juan Escalante, vice president, SkyCourier sales. “The aircraft was designed for operators like Air Marshall Islands that require adaptability and unparalleled performance across a wide variety of missions.”

Based in the capital, Majuro, Air Marshall Islands is a commercially operated airline owned by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. With an additional SkyCourier expected to be delivered this year, AMI selected the aircraft to enhance connectivity and expand services throughout the nation’s atolls and outer islands.

“The delivery of our Cessna SkyCourier represents a significant milestone for AMI and its mission to provide dependable air transportation across the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” says Captain Albon Jelke, general manager and CEO of Air Marshall Islands. “The SkyCourier’s high payload capability and versatile design will allow AMI to transport both passengers and cargo more efficiently, including essential goods such as food, medical supplies, mail and other critical freight.”

The twin engine, high-wing Cessna SkyCourier turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators around the world. The Cessna SkyCourier is offered in two variants, the freighter and the passenger, along with optional kits that allow the aircraft to be configured from passenger to freighter or in a Combi configuration that accommodates up to nine passengers while carrying freight.

The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with a payload capacity of 6,000lb, while the 19-passenger variant features large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both versions offer single-point pressure refuelling to enable faster turnarounds and feature two crew doors and a large side door used for cargo loading or passenger boarding, depending on the configuration.

The SkyCourier is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty 110-inch aluminium four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling tremendous loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200kts and a maximum range greater than 900nm.