Beech 1900D
The Beechcraft 1900D is a 19-seat twin-turboprop commuter aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D engines delivering 1,279 shaft horsepower each. The cabin is 25.3 feet long, 4.5 feet wide, and 5.9 feet tall. Range is 1,247 nautical miles at 280 knots. The 5.9-foot stand-up cabin height is the 1900D's primary design improvement over the original 1900C, which had a flat-roof cross-section at 4.8 feet.
The 32 US Part 135 aircraft concentrate almost entirely in two service categories: Essential Air Service scheduled routes and Alaska bush operations. Alpine Aviation holds 23 aircraft (72% of the fleet) and operates the 1900D under US DOT Essential Air Service contracts connecting rural Utah and Arizona communities (Cedar City, Moab, Page, and Vernal) connecting to Salt Lake City and Phoenix. Bering Air (4 aircraft) and CSI Aviation (4 aircraft) focus on Alaska bush and government contract operations respectively. No active empty legs appear in current listings.
This type is not available for open charter booking through the US Part 135 fleet listed here.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 19 |
| Cabin length | 25.3 ft |
| Cabin width | 4.5 ft |
| Cabin height | 5.9 ft (stand-up) |
The cabin runs 5.9 ft tall — most passengers will crouch slightly when walking the aisle.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Beech 1900D 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 | 1,247 nm |
| Max cruise | 280 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~238 ktas |
With 1,247 nm of range, the Beech 1900D 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 1900D 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 →
History
Beechcraft developed the 1900D as a higher-cabin version of the 1900/1900C, responding to regional airline complaints that the original model's 4.8-foot interior required passengers to crouch. Engineers raised the fuselage roof section above the cabin, creating a distinctive arched upper profile visible in side view, that lifted standing height to 5.9 feet through the full 25.3-foot length. The 1900D first flew on March 1, 1990, and received FAA certification in September 1991.
Beechcraft produced 444 Model 1900D aircraft through 2002, delivering them to US regional carriers operating United Express, Mesa Air, Big Sky, and Great Lakes Airlines routes, as well as commuter operators worldwide. As regional jets displaced the 1900D from denser US routes through the 2000s, most aircraft transitioned to Essential Air Service, charter, cargo, and government work. The 1900C variant (81 active Part 135 aircraft) remains more common in the total fleet due to its large rear cargo door; the 1900D is concentrated in passenger-configured EAS service.
Ideal For
- This type is not suitable for open passenger charter. Alpine Aviation (23 aircraft) operates Essential Air Service scheduled routes in rural Utah and Arizona. Bering Air (4 aircraft) serves remote Alaska communities. CSI Aviation (4 aircraft) holds US government contracts. None offer open charter booking.
- If you need 15-19 passenger seats in a charter turboprop, the King Air 350 (15 seats) has a large active charter fleet with empty leg availability throughout the database.
- US government, DOT, and federal agency contractors needing Part 135-certified 19-seat twin-turboprop operations on thin-margin routes where PT6A reliability and operating costs are established.
Beech 1900D vs Turboprop Average
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charter a Beechcraft 1900D for a group trip?
Not through the US Part 135 fleet listed here. Alpine Aviation (23 of the 32 aircraft) operates Essential Air Service scheduled routes in rural Utah and Arizona under US DOT contracts, not open charter. Bering Air serves remote Alaska communities; CSI Aviation focuses on government contracts. For group charter in a large turboprop, the King Air 350 (15 seats, widely available) or a Beechcraft 1900C configured for charter are more accessible options.
What makes the 1900D different from the 1900C?
The 1900D's defining change is the raised cabin roof, which increased interior height from 4.8 feet (1900C) to 5.9 feet. Beechcraft added an arched upper fuselage section above the wing, enabling stand-up movement through the full cabin. The 1900C retains the original flat-roof profile and a large rear freighter door for cargo loading, making it more common in cargo and combined passenger-freight operations. Both variants use PT6A-67D engines and seat 19 passengers.
How many Beechcraft 1900Ds were built?
Beechcraft produced 444 Model 1900D aircraft between 1991 and 2002. They entered service with US regional carriers operating United Express, Mesa Air, and Great Lakes Airlines routes, as well as international commuter operators. Most exited scheduled airline service in the 2000s as regional jets replaced them on denser routes, with the surviving fleet moving to Essential Air Service, government, and charter operations.
What engines does the Beech 1900D use?
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D turboprop engines, each rated at 1,279 shaft horsepower. The PT6A family is among the most widely produced turboprop engine series in aviation history, with an established global maintenance and overhaul network that keeps operating costs predictable even on aging airframes.
Beech 1900Ds for Charter (32)
Where Beech 1900Ds 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
| Fargo (KFAR) | 209 |
| Sioux Falls (KFSD) | 133 |
| Rapid City (KRAP) | 106 |
| Billings (KBIL) | 89 |
| Salt Lake City (KSLC) | 88 |
| Missoula (KMSO) | 55 |
| Jackson (KJAC) | 45 |
| Everett (KPAE) | 40 |
| Wichita (KICT) | 34 |
| Braddock (1NA8) | 33 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine Aviation, Inc. | 22 | 1,512 |
| CSI Aviation Inc | 4 | 126 |
| BERING AIR INC | 2 | 13 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Beech 1900D on the dimensions that matter most.