The Reims F406 Caravan II Will Be More Effective And Efficient For The Firm’s Multiple Imagery And Lidar Collections

Woolpert has added a Reims F406 Caravan II to its fleet of aircraft to more efficiently and effectively perform on both high-altitude and low-altitude aerial data acquisition and address client demand.

“In recent years, Woolpert has frequently been tasked with two divergent missions—high-altitude imagery and lidar collections, and low-altitude bathymetric lidar collections,” said Brian Albers, Woolpert’s chief pilot. “While both of these missions are different, we’ve found they can be addressed with one aircraft.”

The nonpressurized, twin-turboprop F406 was built by Reims Aviation in cooperation with Cessna. It was purchased by Woolpert this month and joins Woolpert’s fleet of six aircraft.

This acquisition will allow the firm to be more efficient and effective for its many imagery and lidar collections in support of federal, state and local government clients.

Jonas Svoboda, Woolpert’s aerial acquisition discipline leader, said the F406 has more electrical capacity than most similarly-sized aircraft, providing an excellent platform that can handle multiple sensors. It also produces less vibration than a piston-driven aircraft, which will allow for more precise lidar and imagery collection and offer more horsepower overall.

Updated internal environmental controls, the fact that the plane doesn’t need to be pressurized, its large cargo capacity, and the increased speed and efficiency it provides for data collections will help keep the firm competitive.

“The F406 can do both ends of the imagery and lidar collection spectrum more quickly and yield the highest quality product,” Svoboda said. “It positions us well for the future.”

(Image provided with Woolpert news release)

FMI: http://woolpert.com