![]()
While its production timeline has been delayed, those considering buying a Beechcraft Denali and wanting an extra layer of safety learned this week that good things come to those who wait. Now we ask, if waiting is the hardest part, how much longer must we wait? Textron Aviation announced on Monday that the Denali single-engine turboprop will be equipped with the Garmin Emergency Autoland system as a standard feature when it enters into service.
"The autoland system is an excellent addition to the Beechcraft Denali and the G3000 avionics suite, and we've included it in the program as a direct response to continued conversations with our customers," said Lannie O'Bannion, senior vice president, of sales andamp; flight operations for the company. "The feature makes the Denali even more desirable to a wider audience as it adds yet another element of assurance and peace of mind for pilots and passengers."?
The Garmin Emergency Autoland system adds the ability for an aircraft to land automatically in emergencies such as pilot incapacitation. A passenger can activate it by pressing a dedicated button in the cockpit.
It then allows the system to take command of the aircraft, notifies air traffic control of the emergency and then calculates a flight path to the most suitable airport or runway while avoiding terrain and bad weather.
Along with the announcement, Textron provided more details about the development of the Beechcraft Denali.
The company now expects certification in 2025, with the company "aligning … certification timing for the new Catalyst engine, a product of Avio Aero - part of GE Aerospace."
The Denali will be the first aircraft to be powered by the engine. ?
"We continue to experience great progress with the Denali development program, and we believe the aircraft will be a game changer in the single-engine, high-performance turboprop segment," said Chris Hearne, senior vice president of engineering. "Our customers are excited for the emergency autoland feature on the Denali and, while our goal is to achieve type certification as quickly as possible, it is of greatest importance to assure that every detail is completed with the highest quality."?
At NBAA-BACE last October, Textron President and CEO Ron Draper announced that certification for the Denali would be delayed one year to 2024, blaming pandemic-related supply constraints and the push for the company to focus on delivery of the Cessna SkyCourier, of which FedEx had ordered dozens.
"There is no issue with the Catalyst engine," Draper said then. "The airplane is flying great; there aren't any issues. It is a lot of work to certify an airplane and an engine at the same time and we are bold enough to do that."PREVIOUS STORIES: These were the hottest business aviation news stories at NBAA-BACE 2022 Beechcraft Denali propeller system completes wind tunnel testing Beechcraft Denali takes to the sky for first flightTest flights of the Beechcraft Denali began in June and there are now three prototypes flying. An update from Textron this week noted that the three planes have now accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours.
Seen by many as a potential competitor to the Pilatus PC-12, the Beechcraft Denali is expected to be able to hit cruise speeds of 285 knots with a full fuel payload of 1,100 pounds, able to cover a range of 1,600 miles at high-speed cruise with a pilot and four passengers - able to connect Los Angeles to Chicago, New York to Miami or London to Athens.?
The Catalyst turboprop engine is a SAF-capable, FADEC-equipped, 1,300 shaft horsepower (SHP)-rated engine that offers single-lever power and control of its McCauley 105-inch composite, 5-blade, constant speed propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch and ice protection.?