Page 20 - Nov23

Ron Draper returned to flying starting in 2016 and in roughly two years he flew the Textron Aviation product line, from the Beechcraft Baron G58 (shown here) and Cessna 172 to the Beechcraft King Air 360 and progressing through the Cessna Citation 525 type rating.
(Courtesy Textron Aviation)
at all levels by increasing the amount the company reimburses for earning a private pilot certificate. “I’m trying to infect everybody with this aviation passion,” he said.
That’s just one way he’s working on the company’s culture, which is centered on four values: be human, be trustworthy, be collaborative and be legendary.
“I hear from employees and customers that we are moving the needle,” Draper said. “We still have work to do but customers are saying they see a difference when they bring in their airplane for service or when they interact with employees. It doesn’t mean we don’t trip up or that we don’t make mistakes, but they are seeing a difference in how we react when we do.”
Draper said he “appreciates the passion King Air operators have for the product.” When asked what he hears most frequently from King Air owners and operators, he said, “We knew that upgrading the cabin environment was a priority for owners and were pleased to accomplish that with the recent King Air 260 and 360 upgrades. The new autothrottle capabilities are a plus for the pilot sitting up front. When you sit inside, you see that the cabin includes a stunning new look with craftsman-built cabinetry, partitions and side ledges,
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upgraded materials and finishes, and all new interior schemes. “Other upgrades include a lower cabin altitude at the aircraft’s certified ceiling of 35,000 feet – more than 10% lower when compared to the King Air 350i. From my experience, the improved cabin altitude level makes long flights much more comfortable.”
A commitment to the King Air
When asked for specifics about continued investment in the King Air family and the likelihood of seeing the King Air 90 series return to production (the C90GTx was discontinued in 2021), the public relations team noted that they have to be careful with forward looking statements. Draper offered this:
“Our renewed product upgrade strategy kicked off in earnest with our recent investments in the Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360. Being able to give King Air operators benefits like reduced pilot workload with autothrottles and redesigned, luxurious cabins that enhance the passenger experience is as important as delivering the same versatility and reliability that has made the King Air so iconic. We are always considering new technological advances, performance enhancements
NOVEMBER 2023