Beechcraft 1900

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A Sunwest Airlines Beech 1900D at Vancouver International Airport.

The Beechcraft 1900 is a twin-engine civilian turboprop fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Raytheon. It was developed from the Beech 99, which was itself derived from the Beechcraft King Air corporate turboprop series. Cockpit controls and operations are similar to the King Air.

The Beechcraft 1900 is typically used in regional airline, corporate and freight operations. In typical airline configuration, the Beechcraft 1900 seats 19 passengers in the cabin, with a two-pilot crew in the cockpit. Smaller regional airliners are frequently limited to 19 seats in order to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration limitation requiring aircraft designed to carry more than 19 passengers to have a flight attendant on board. For smaller regional airlines or routes on which few passengers travel, the additional personnel costs associated with having a flight attendant may make operations too costly.

The first flight was on September 3, 1982. US FAA certification was awarded in November 1983, prior to the 1900's entry into service in February the following year. The first ExecLiner corporate transport version was delivered in mid-1985. More than 600 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft have been delivered.

Beechcraft produced four variants of the 1900. The most recent variants, the 1900C and 1900D, are the most popular. The 1900D added winglets and a redesigned cockpit (with EFIS) to the 1900C. The cabin on the 1900D is higher than all other variants, allowing most passengers to walk upright in the aisle, a feature which is rare for aircraft which hold only 19 passengers. The higher cabin gives the 1900D its unusual "forehead". The aircraft has been referred to, in jest, as the 'flying forehead' or the 'horse float' due to its distinctive shape.

Airlines in the United States which currently operate the Beechcraft 1900 include CommutAir and Gulfstream International (Continental Connection), Colgan Air and Air Midwest (US Airways Express), Skyway Airlines (Midwest Connect), Big Sky Air, and Great Lakes Airlines. Airlines in Canada which operate the Beechcraft 1900 include Air Alliance/Central Mountain Air/Air Canada Jazz and Air Labrador. Airlines in Europe and other areas also operate the Beechcraft 1900, as do many corporate and freight operators.

The 1900D is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprop engines which were chosen for their excellent reliability (compared to a reciprocating engine), and fuel economy (compared to a jet engine). This limits the 1900 to slower speeds than jet aircraft, and propellers create more noise and vibration than jets. The propellers are manufactured by Hartzell, with four blades and composite construction.

The 1900D cruises at 260 knots TAS (about 300 mph or 480 km/h). During takeoff, approach and landing, the speeds the 1900 uses are nearly the same as jet aircraft. Airlines often prefer the 1900 over jet aircraft for shorter routes because trip times are not significantly longer on distances up to 300 miles/500 kilometers, and it is more fuel efficient.

Recent market trends have favored larger 50- to 90-seat regional jets, and while many airlines continue to fly the Beechcraft 1900, orders for additional aircraft have fallen off. Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in 2002.

Specifications (Beechcraft 1900D)

General characteristics

• Wing span (over winglets): 17.67m (58ft 0in)
• Length: 17.63m (57ft 10in)
• Height: 4.72m (15ft 6in)
• Empty weight: 4831kg (10,650lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 7688kg (17,120lb)
• Engines: Two 955kW (1279shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprops
• Fuel Capacity: 4,484 lb.
• Fuel Type: Jet A recommended, others usable.
• Service Ceiling: 25,000 feet

Performance

• Maximum operating speed: Mach 0.48 (248 kt. indicated airspeed)
• Typical cruising speed: 260 kt. true airspeed (300 mph / 480 km/h)
• Maximum range: 2776km (1498nm)

Military Operators

• Egypt, Taiwan, United States

External links

• [Raytheon Aircraft's Beechcraft 1900 website]
• [Raytheon's History of the 1900]
• [Airliners.net's background of the 1900]
• [Aviation Safety Network Beechcraft 1900 Data]
• [Aviation Safety Network 1900 Emergency Exits]
• [Airsafe's List of Fatal Accidents Involving the Beechcraft 1900]

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