General Aviation Beechcraft King Air 360(ER) and 260 receive EASA type certificates

The European Aviation Safety Agency EASA has issued type certificates for the Beechcraft King Air 360, 360ER and 260 aircraft types. This is a new milestone the Textron Aviation´s aircraft programmes, as it paves the way for deliveries to European customers.

This latest type certificates of Beechcraft´s twin-turboprop models mean that the manufacturer will start with deliveries to customers throughout the region shortly. King Air turboprop aircraft have been a popular choice with European customers, are more than 460 aircraft are currently flying throughout the region.

Regarding the certification, Tom Perry, vice president of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Beechcraft, said: “EASA certification begins a whole new era for the Beechcraft King Air in Europe […] The King Air has been the turboprop of choice throughout this region for more than five decades, and the new 260 and 360 will build on that legendary reputation. We have incorporated innovative and next generation technologies that enhance the flying experience for an already proven aircraft.”

In Europe, the most King Air turboprops have been delivered to owners from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These three countries alone make up for nearly half of all King Airs owned and operated on the continent.

The King Air turboprops from Beechcraft are known for their reliability and versatility. On normal flights with four passengers and a single-pilot on board, the aircraft is capable of flying with a range of 3,345 km (1,806 nautical miles). The King Air 260 with same load is capable of flying up to 3,185 km (1,720 nautical miles) without refuelling.

All King Air aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and technologies that higher situational awareness and pilot workload to make operations safer. On both aircraft, an IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle system and a digital cabin pressurization have been installed.

In 2020, the new King Air turboprops were introduced by Textron Aviation and the King Air 360(ER) achieved U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in October last year, while the 260 gained its FAA certification in March this year.