The upgraded aircraft will be introduced on Seair’s expanded Victoria–Vancouver Harbour route, where the performance improvements are intended to deliver a faster, quieter and more capable harbour-to-harbour travel experience for coastal passengers.

 

Founded in 1982, Seair operates seven Caravan floatplanes and has grown into the world’s largest operator of the type. Its network includes Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Vancouver Harbour, YVR South Terminal, Nanaimo and the Southern Gulf Islands, supporting regional connectivity for both business and leisure travel.

 

Performance Gains from the XP140 Upgrade

The Blackhawk XP140 engine and Yukon propeller combination is designed for short-runway, float and harbour operations. According to the companies, the upgrade delivers measurable improvements across take-off, climb and cruise performance.

 

Blackhawk XP140 Engine highlights include:

• 28% more horsepower
• 13.6% shorter take-off
• 28.7% shorter distance over a 50-foot obstacle
• 35% improved climb rate
• 13% faster cruise speed, equating to an increase of 21 knots and a reduction of approximately five minutes on harbour-to-harbour sectors

Yukon four-blade propeller highlights include:

• 17% shorter take-off distance
• 40% reduction in ground roll
• 10.6% faster climb rate

Combined, the engine and propeller upgrades provide more than 25% improvement in take-off performance, smoother dock and water handling, and a cruise speed increase that reduces typical harbour-to-harbour flight time to around 25 minutes.

This configuration positions the aircraft as the fastest harbour-to-harbour service currently in operation on the route.

 

This aircraft is the first of at least three Seair Caravans scheduled for upgrade as part of the operator’s broader fleet modernisation programme.

 

Further information on the Blackhawk XP140 Engine+ Upgrade for the Cessna Caravan is available directly from Blackhawk.