Aircraft Based On Pilatus PC-12 Platform

The Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) business area of Sierra Nevada Corporation ... located in Centennial, CO ... has won a competitive contract from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The contract is to provide and operate two Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) for the State of Colorado, Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC).

Based on the Pilatus PC-12, the DFPC aircraft will be equipped with sensors and communications equipment that allow firefighters to detect small fires before they grow into large incidents that severely affect Colorado’s lives, property, and resources. As a result of the integration of SNC’s technology and modifications by SNC, the MMA will provide advanced fire detection, location, and behavior monitoring capabilities.

Additionally, the aircraft features a communications system that allows the air crew to send collected information to all wildfire response personnel using the Colorado Wildfire Information Management System (CO-WIMS). CO-WIMS, developed by SNC’s team member, Intterra, Inc. of Castle Rock, Colorado, is a web-based collaborative information sharing tool that allows any firefighter immediate access to fire location, behavior, and other critical pieces of information. CO-WIMS is accessible from tablets, computers, and smartphones and is built specifically to address the needs of the wildfire response personnel.

“The PC-12 is an ideal multi-mission platform to support the State of Colorado’s firefighting efforts this year. The aircraft is affordable, fast, can stay airborne for a long time, and can be operated from almost any airfield. The suite of sensors and communications equipment provides a capability that can greatly improve the firefighter safety and efficiency in handling an incident,” said Ralph Pollitt, vice president of business development for SNC’s ISR.

This award establishes DFPC and SNC as the vanguard for cooperative ventures to quickly put game-changing tools and capabilities in the hands of wildfire managers to help protect Colorado’s people and resources from wildfires. SNC and the DFPC expect to have one aircraft operational this fire season.

FMI: www.sncorp.com