Textron Gears Up for Historic Delivery of First Medical SkyCourier Air Ambulance
Textron Aviation stands on the brink of a groundbreaking achievement: the inaugural delivery of an air ambulance-configured Cessna SkyCourier turboprop aircraft. The company has confirmed that the first deliveries are imminent, signifying a substantial expansion of the SkyCourier platform into the vital medevac and special missions market.
Bob Gibbs, Textron Aviation’s Vice President of Defense and Special Mission Sales, unveiled the updated delivery timeline at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on September 14, 2026. The aero-medical SkyCourier, commissioned by Algerian operator Tassili Travail Aérien (TTA)—a subsidiary of national oil behemoth Sonatrach—is equipped with the advanced Lifeport Plus Powered Medevac System, enabling swift conversion between passenger, cargo, and medevac configurations.
The twin-engine Cessna SkyCourier is propelled by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and outfitted with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. It can reach a maximum cruise speed of over 200 knots true airspeed (KTAS) and a maximum range of 900 nautical miles, making it an ideal choice for aero-medical evacuation missions across Algeria’s expansive energy sector terrain.
TTA’s aircraft will operate from Algiers and Hassi Messaoud, Algeria, offering passenger transport, emergency medical evacuation, and other special mission services. The SkyCourier’s adaptability—capable of handling high payloads, short-field performance, and rough runways—positions it as a superior choice for demanding operating environments globally.
Source: FlightGlobal – Textron Readies First Medical SkyCourier Aircraft for Delivery