Textron Aviation delivered two Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft to join the United States Forest Service (USFS) fleet, the company said in a statement yesterday. The aircraft will perform wildfires mapping and aerial operations support.
The aircraft include the installation of the latest infrared (IR) sensing technology, the Overwatch Imaging TK-9 Earthwatch airborne sensor, for precision mapping of fires in varying light and atmospheric conditions.
This information is critical for firefighters on the ground when they do not know the exact extent of the event due to darkness, smoke, flame size, rapid spread or complex terrain. Infrared sensor mapping aircraft can also be used to detect fires triggered by lightning strikes when they are still in their early stages.
In addition, the Beechcraft King Air 260s feature the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar, which provides pilots with a fully automatic and optimised short-, medium- and long-range weather detection system.
«Whether for the wildfire detection and mapping, resource management, aerial supervision module or air attack, the King Air continues to demonstrate its leadership in this mission», highlighted Bob Gibbs, VP of Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation. «Customer faith in our legendary products and trust in our company and our team are at the core of our enduring relationship with United States Forest Service», he added.
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