Textron Aviation has announced that the Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop has been awarded type certification by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The first SkyCourier in the region – a 19-seat passenger variant – is planned to be delivered in the second half of 2025 to Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR), a wholly owned subsidiary of ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative in the Philippines.

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The Cessna SkyCourier is designed to meet the needs of air freight, passenger and special-mission operations, and can be operated by a single pilot. The aircraft can easily adjust configurations and also has capabilities to support a wide range of operational activities in remote areas.

ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative serves members of the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other uniformed personnel. Members include active service personnel, retirees, reservists, civilian employees of the AFP and other uniformed personnel and dependents. LEASCOR was established in 2016 as the air chartering arm of the Cooperative.

“We are excited to connect underserved communities in the Philippines with the new 19-seat SkyCourier turboprop, which will complement our present fleet,” said Major General Gilbert S. Llanto, ACDI MPC Chairman. “It will surely boost our business lines in tourism, agriculture and food, aviation, mobility and the construction industry across the archipelago.”

Textron Aviation offers the Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, high-wing turboprop in both Freighter and Passenger variants, as well as with a Combi configuration or gravel kit for maximum flexibility. The 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refuelling. The Freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with 6,000lbs of payload capability.