Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Cessna Grand Caravan Ex vs Tecnam P2012
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a pressurized, twin‑turboprop business/utility aircraft aimed at faster, higher‑altitude regional travel. It offers the greatest range of the three at roughly 1,500 nautical miles (varies with payload and reserves) and typically seats about 6 to 9 passengers in executive layouts, with high cruise speeds and strong all‑weather capability. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is a single‑turboprop utility aircraft optimized for short, rugged routes and flexible missions (commuter, cargo, medical). It generally carries up to about 9 passengers in typical commuter configurations and delivers mid‑tier range around 900 to 1,000 nautical miles, with excellent short‑field performance but lower speed than the King Air. The Tecnam P2012 Traveller is a modern, unpressurized twin‑piston commuter aircraft designed for high‑cycle regional service. It is usually configured for about 9 passengers and has the shortest range of the three at roughly 700 to 900 nautical miles, trading speed and altitude capability for lower operating costs on short sectors.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Cessna Grand Caravan EX | Tecnam P2012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.37 | $ 3.15 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Cessna | Tecnam |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 350ER | Grand Caravan EX | P2012 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 2338 | 964 | 950 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.55 | $ 0.39 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6585 | 3332 | 2937 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,324 | $ 614 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 Nxi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 303 | 195 | 190 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $8,750,000 | $2,695,000 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | Yes (Belted Optional) | No | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cargo Door | Optional | Yes | — |
| Total Seats | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | Un-Pressurized | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | Refreshment Center | No | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-60A | PT6A-140 | TEO-540-C1A |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 4000 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 1050 | 867 | 375 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 10 | ISA + 24 | — |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 775 | 335 | 198 |
| Fuel Type | — | — | AvGas |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | 12 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 46.7 | 41.6 | 38.7 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 52.1 | 46 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4.8 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 19.5 | 16.8 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.4 | 15.1 | 14.4 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 19.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 71 | 32 | — |