New travel experience

Cessna Aircraft Company arrives in Sri Lanka

By Shezna Shums

The Cessna Grand Caravan manufactured by the Cessna Aircraft Company in the USA has arrived on the shores of Sri Lanka.

Living up to its name the Cessna Grand Caravan delivers exceptional performance and guarantees faster access to destinations - Arugumbay in 45 minutes, Hambantota in 60 minutes, Jaffna in 60 minutes and Kandy in 20 minutes.

With a rich heritage and aircrafts operating in over 70 countries, the Cessna Grand Caravan has the ability to operate where ordinary aircrafts cannot. The aircraft can land and take off on grass, gravel and even on a dirt tract with a maximum length of 1, 400 -2, 500 ft. It is safe and reliable, the advance avionics allows for nighttime flying as well.

With over 2, 000 Caravan aircrafts delivered around the world, it is built for high utilization of over 250 hours per month. The Cessna Grand Caravan is today the preferred aircraft for transporting people and goods.

While nothing can match the versatility and cost effectiveness of the Cessna Grand Caravan, the aircraft with its exclusive interior provides passengers the luxury of travelling in comfort, with almost no disturbance to the environment.

It is no wonder; that the Cessna Grand Caravan is one of the most sought after aircrafts the world over.

Last week a group of media personnel were provided a Cessna journey to Kandy and back to Colombo well within an hour.

The flight to Kandy from the Rathmalana airport took just a little over 20 minutes and we turned around and returned in about the same time. The Cessna Grand Caravan is very luxurious, the plush cushioned leather seats makes the smooth journey even more comfortable. The flight overall was comfortable and beats spending hours on the roads getting from one place to another. Taking off from Rathmalana the distance was quite short and the take off was very smooth and we were up in the air in no time, with the beautiful view of the ocean on one side and the green scenery on the other.

During the entire flight the aircraft was not too high in the air which allowed us to see the scenery of the country, roads, towns and the gradual change from low land to the mountainous regions.

Above Kandy we could easily identify the places, areas and grounds; the flight being smooth was an added factor that allowed us to enjoy the entire journey and appreciate the beauty of the island within the cool and lush interiors of the aircraft that can get us to the destinations in such a short time.

The interior of the aircraft is very posh with soft leathers seat, and cabinetry is very well done, and will be exceptional for both business and pleasure trips. Whether it’s taking tourists to far off destinations or going on business to the other side of the island the Cessna Grand Caravan is more than up to the challenge.

The Cessna will be ideal to meet the challenging demands of tourists who may want to reach a destination as fast as possible and with the least amount of effort.

With the Cessna you get off at your destination as comfortable as you got into the flight, and the day the media were taken for this flight, we spent almost the same amount of time travelling from Colombo to Rathmalana when compared to the time we flew from Colombo to Kandy and back, all within an hour.

And even with all the available seating, this extraordinary aircraft can change roles quickly by converting to a cargo hauler in less than 30 minutes, doubling its duty.

The supple leather seating, exquisite wood trim and cabinetry, flat panel video displays and elegant design options throughout with the newly redesigned Caravan Oasis interior, the executive option takes you to extreme places in extreme comfort.

More than eight decades ago, a small aircraft company started in Wichita, Kan., to do what others said could not be done – to build a monoplane that used a wing without supporting struts or braces. When the Cessna All Purpose took off August 13, 1927, the aviation world was forever changed. In fact, Clyde Cessna’s cantilever design has been the standard ever since.

Truth be told, the history of Cessna is a long line of firsts. With such a heritage, it’s no wonder Cessna Aircraft Company is the leading designer and manufacturer of light and midsize business jets, utility turboprops and single engine aircraft, having sold and delivered more aircrafts than anyone else in history – 190,000 and counting.

Today, with 8,500-plus dedicated employees worldwide and billions of dollars in orders for some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, the future of the company and customers is even brighter than the company’s lustrous past.

Whether your mission is freight or airlines, personal/corporate or amphibian, the Caravan is fully equipped to meet all of your needs.

It starts with a timeless high-wing design that offers so many practical benefits, including greater stability, superb visibility, sun blocking and inclement weather protection.

The high-wing design also results in a simplified preflight inspection and easy access to pilot, passenger and cargo doors. And like the traditional high-wing single engine aircraft, the Caravan is constructed with durable aluminum, making it easy to maintain and repair, with no life limits on airframe.

The durable right-rear "airstair" was created to enable passengers to board quickly and efficiently. The door is easily opened or closed from either inside or outside the aircraft.

The main gear is a massive steel tube linked directly to the fuselage, a flexible design perfect for grass, gravel and even rough airstrips. The nose gear is engineered to absorb both vertical and lateral force by transmitting the impact to the fuselage.

Large rough-field tires contribute further to the Caravan’s rugged flexibility. And should your travels turn maritime, you can add floats to your Caravan and land on water. So whether it’s touching down wet or dry, your landing can be about as smooth as the flight itself.