Beech 1900C
The Beechcraft 1900C is a 19-seat pressurized turboprop commuter with a 25.3-foot cabin, 4.5 feet wide and 4.9 feet tall, powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B engines. Range is 1,520 nautical miles at 252 knots. Unlike most aircraft types in this database, the 1900C is not an on-demand charter aircraft. All 81 US Part 135 examples operate within five cargo and commuter organizations: Alpine Aviation (27 aircraft), Ameriflight (26), Alaska Central Express (19), Planemasters (5), and Suburban Air Freight (4). Those five operators hold 100% of the active fleet.
The primary missions are regional freight and scheduled passenger service. Alpine Aviation and Ameriflight operate cargo networks across the western US; Alaska Central Express serves remote Alaskan communities on fixed routes where the 1900C carries both mail and passengers. The type does not appear in open charter markets, and active empty legs are essentially zero.
The 1900C is the earlier cabin variant of the Beechcraft 1900 family. Its 4.9-foot cabin height requires passengers to bow their heads when moving through the aisle. The 1900D, introduced in 1991, redesigned the fuselage to provide a stand-up cabin (5.9 feet tall) and became the preferred passenger variant.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 19 |
| Cabin length | 25.3 ft |
| Cabin width | 4.5 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.9 ft |
At 4.9 ft of cabin height, the Beech 1900C is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Beech 1900C cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 1,520 nm |
| Max cruise | 252 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~214 ktas |
With 1,520 nm of range, the Beech 1900C is built for short-to-mid US missions. Plan a fuel stop for anything past three hours of cruise.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the Beech 1900C at roughly $2,000–$2,500 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Turboprop jets like this carry 6–9 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
Safety Record
History
Beechcraft developed the Model 1900 to replace aging Beech 99 fleets in the regional airline market, offering a larger pressurized airframe on the same PT6A turboprop platform. The prototype flew on September 3, 1982, and the FAA certified the aircraft on November 22, 1983, under Special Federal Aviation Regulation 41C governing commuter category airplanes. Customer deliveries began in February 1984.
Beechcraft delivered approximately 254 Model 1900C airframes (in 74 UB, 174 UC, and 6 UD sub-variants) before transitioning to the improved 1900D. The 1900D prototype flew on March 1, 1990, and Beechcraft began 1900D deliveries in November 1991 to Mesa Air. The 1900D's taller, stand-up cabin largely displaced the 1900C in passenger service. Total Beechcraft 1900 family production reached 695 aircraft before Raytheon ended production in October 2002.
Ideal For
- Regional freight networks on thin routes where the 1900C's 19 seats and cargo-configured interior can handle mixed loads
- Scheduled commuter passenger service on routes under 800nm where a 19-seat pressurized turboprop makes economic sense
- Alaska bush and remote community service where the 1900C's range and payload accommodate cargo-plus-passenger operations
- Cargo operators such as Ameriflight that need a reliable twin-turboprop for express freight networks
- Operations where the 1900C's lower used acquisition cost suits high-cycle fleet operations
Beech 1900C vs Turboprop Average
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Beechcraft 1900C available for on-demand charter?
Not typically. All 81 US Part 135 examples operate within five freight and scheduled-service organizations. The type is absent from open charter markets. Passengers wanting a 19-seat turboprop for a private charter should look at the 1900D, which has a stand-up cabin and appears in limited passenger charter operations.
What is the difference between the 1900C and the 1900D?
The 1900D, introduced in 1991, redesigned the fuselage with a substantially taller cabin (5.9 feet vs 4.9 feet) to provide stand-up headroom for passengers. The 1900C requires passengers to duck when moving through the aisle. Both variants use twin PT6A turboprop engines and carry 19 passengers. For freight operations the difference is irrelevant; for passenger service the 1900D is significantly more comfortable.
How many Beechcraft 1900Cs were built?
Approximately 254 aircraft across three sub-variants (74 UB, 174 UC, 6 UD). The 1900D, which replaced it in production from 1991, accounted for 439 of the 695 total Beechcraft 1900 family deliveries. Production of all 1900 variants ended in October 2002.
Who are the main operators of the Beechcraft 1900C in the US?
Alpine Aviation (27 aircraft) and Ameriflight (26) operate the type primarily as cargo aircraft on regional freight networks. Alaska Central Express (19 aircraft) serves remote Alaskan communities on scheduled mixed cargo-passenger routes. These three organizations hold 89% of the US Part 135 fleet.
Why does the Beechcraft 1900C have such a concentrated operator base?
The 1900C's size and mission profile suit freight networks and scheduled commuter routes rather than on-demand charter. Cargo integrators and regional air carriers that need consistent 19-seat payload on fixed routes find the 1900C economical. Individual charter operators have little use for a 19-seat commuter at Part 135; they typically choose smaller single-pilot turboprops or jets.
Beech 1900Cs for Charter (81) Page 2 of 2
Where Beech 1900Cs actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
| Anchorage (PANC) | 491 |
| Billings (KBIL) | 273 |
| Portland (KPDX) | 200 |
| Salt Lake City (KSLC) | 194 |
| Lansing (KLAN) | 179 |
| Denver (KDEN) | 135 |
| Kodiak (PADQ) | 124 |
| San Antonio (KSAT) | 123 |
| Kalispell (KGPI) | 121 |
| Dillingham (PADL) | 113 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Ameriflight, LLC | 22 | 1,887 |
| Alpine Aviation, Inc. | 25 | 1,399 |
| ALASKA CENTRAL EXPRESS INC | 16 | 1,098 |
| Planemasters, Ltd. | 5 | 569 |
| Suburban Air Freight, Inc. | 4 | 505 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Beech 1900C on the dimensions that matter most.