N973LA

N973LA is a Cessna 408, a single-engine turboprop operated by TEXTRON AVIATION INC. SkyMeter has tracked 1,666 flights totalling 1,565 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 27 callsigns. The most frequent segment is PHNL to PHNL. Service window in our records spans 400 days. Of those flights, 12 (0.7%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Cessna 408 has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 lb, light wake category.

About the Cessna 408

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is a twin-boom utility turboprop purpose-built for cargo and commuter operations, certified by the FAA in 2020. Developed specifically to meet FedEx's requirements for a high-wing freighter to replace aging Cessna Caravans, the SkyCourier features a boxy fuselage optimized for LD3 container loading, a rear cargo door, and a 900-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC engine. Its unpressurized cabin can accommodate three LD3 containers or up to 19 passengers in commuter configuration, with a maximum payload of 2,700 pounds and a range of approximately 900 nautical miles.

The aircraft's design prioritizes operational simplicity and low acquisition cost over speed or pressurization. Maximum cruise speed is around 200 knots, with a service ceiling of 25,000 feet, modest figures that reflect its mission as a workhorse for short-haul freight and passenger routes. The high wing and fixed tricycle landing gear provide excellent ground clearance for unpaved strips, while the twin-boom empennage allows unobstructed cargo access through the rear. Cessna delivered the first production SkyCourier to FedEx in May 2020, with the launch customer ordering 50 airframes for its feeder network.

Beyond FedEx, the type has found operators in regional cargo, charter, and humanitarian missions where rugged reliability and payload volume matter more than cabin comfort. The SkyCourier competes directly with the Viking Twin Otter and Shorts 360 in the utility turboprop segment, offering modern avionics (Garmin G1000 NXi) and lower operating costs than older designs. Its straightforward systems and single-engine configuration keep maintenance overhead minimal, a critical advantage for operators serving remote airstrips in Alaska, the Caribbean, and developing regions.

SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.