Seair Upgrades Cessna Caravan with Blackhawk XP140 Engine

Blackhawk Upgrade Targets Faster Seaplane Operations

Yukon propeller boosts performance as well

seaair and blackhawk collaborate on engine and propeller upgrades for Caravan seaplanes — © Seair | Blackhawk

January 23, 2026

The Blackhawk Group and Seair Seaplanes are nearing completion of the latter’s first Cessna Caravan upgraded with the Blackhawk XP140 Engine+ and a Yukon four-blade propeller, a combination intended to deliver the fastest harbor-to-harbor service in the region. The upgraded Caravan is scheduled to enter service on Seair’s newly expanded Victoria-to-Vancouver Harbour route, with the companies citing gains in speed, climb performance, and overall capability for coastal operations.

According to Blackhawk, the XP140 engine delivers 28% more shaft horsepower, a 35% improvement in climb rate, and a 13% increase in cruise speed, equating to about 21 knots. Combined with the Yukon propeller, the upgrade reduces takeoff distances and improves performance over water and short-runway environments, cutting harbor-to-harbor travel time by about five minutes to 25 minutes.

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