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.”

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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.

FMI: www.pilatus-aircraft.com