Condor Aviation takes delivery of new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft

Textron Aviation has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Yurok Tribe’s Condor Aviation that will assist in performing large-scale environmental restoration projects.

The special missions Grand Caravan EX aircraft will increase the tribe’s capacity to evaluate long-term natural resource management decisions and quantify the effects of climate change, Textron said in a company press release.

The Yurok Tribe will use aerial imaging equipment and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems aboard the Cessna aircraft to create extremely accurate three-dimensional maps of the earth’s surface. This will help the tribe collect a broad range of data regarding terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Yurok officials said data collected by the aircraft will significantly enhance their ability to holistically restore salmon-spawning streams.

“We employ LiDAR data and high-definition aerial imagery to maximize the efficacy of our efforts to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems and repair fire-damaged forests in Northern California,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. The Yurok Tribe is the most populous federally recognized tribe in California.

The new Grand Caravan EX joins a Cessna Turbo Skylane already in service with Condor Aviation. In addition to tribal projects, Condor Aviation, in conjunction with the Yurok Fisheries Department’s technical team, provides precision mapping and high-resolution imaging services to a wide range of clients from California to Alaska.

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries with nearly 24 million flight hours amassed worldwide since the aircraft was introduced. The aircraft offers an impressive output of 867 horsepower and a rate of climb of 1,275 feet per minute.