Textron Aviation Inc. was awarded
a contract for two additional Beechcraft King Air
350CER turboprop aircraft for the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations. After mission
modifications by Sierra Nevada Corp., these two Multi-role
Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) aircraft will join a fleet of 23 other
King Air 350 aircraft used to safeguard the United States homeland as
part of the coordinated application of CBP’s aviation and maritime
law enforcement resources.
"These aircraft can fly six-hour
missions and can deploy to hot spots where multi-sensor patrols
assist both ground and marine agents to detect, interdict and prevent
acts of terrorism as well as the unlawful movement of people, illegal
drugs and other contraband toward or across the borders of the United
States,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales.
The CBP MEA is equipped with a
sophisticated array of active and passive sensors, technical
collection equipment and satellite communications capabilities that
can be deployed for ground interdiction operations, air-to-air
intercept operations and medium-range maritime patrols. The aircraft
is operated by a crew of four, including two highly trained sensor
operators who employ the mission equipment and coordinate the
information flow to the ground.
The Beechcraft King Air 350CER
aircraft is an extended range version of the King Air
350i twin-engine turboprop aircraft configured with an optional
cargo door, resulting in enhanced mission flexibility. Two
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A or optional factory installed
PT6A-67A turboprop engines with Hartzell four blade propellers power
the King Air 350CER aircraft, and a fully integrated Collins
Aerospace Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite provides pilot(s)
with state-of-the-art touchscreen controls.
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