Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Airplane Will Become BLM Multi-Role Utility Aircraft
Pilatus announced Monday that the U.S. Department of the
Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken delivery
of its first Pilatus PC-12. The aircraft will be put to multirole
use performing cargo, passenger, smokejumper, air tactical, aerial
supervision and lead plane fire-fighting missions.
BLM said it selected the PC-12 because it is the only aircraft
that meets all the mission requirements, and will provide it with
significantly enhanced capability at the least annual program cost.
BLM estimates that ownership of this aircraft will reduce the
direct cost to the government by $1.5 million per year as opposed
to contracting for a similar aircraft.
The BLM’s multirole PC-12 features the unique Utility Door
option. Capable of being opened in flight, this inward-opening door
is mounted within the PC-12’s standard cargo door and enables
the aircraft to depressurize and perform specialist parachute work
or drop supplies or relief materials, and later re-pressurize and
return to high speed cruise at altitude.
Leonard Luke, Vice President of Homeland Security and Government
Business at Pilatus added, “The PC-12 has become increasingly
popular as a cost effective multirole solution for government
agencies. Strong performance, fuel efficiency, and a rugged
airframe suitable for military missions make it the ideal special
mission platform for today’s government and law enforcement
agencies.”
File Photo
The BLM is responsible for the management and conservation of
resources on 256 million surface acres in the United States. These
public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of
the country and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the
U.S. government. The PC-12 will be based at the BLM’s Fire
and Aviation Directorate and National Interagency Fire Center in
Boise, Idaho.
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