Textron Aviation begins delivery of Beechcraft King Air turboprop fleet to support air ambulance missions in Canada

 Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, has begun delivery to CanWest Air, a division of Nor-Alta Aviation Leasing, Inc. When completed, this delivery will include nine Beechcraft King Air turboprop aircraft—eight King Air 250 and one King Air 350aircraft—which CanWest is purchasing to provide air ambulance support to Alberta Health Services in Alberta, Canada. The new turboprops will replace CanWest’s current air ambulance fleet of King Air B200 aircraft.

“CanWest has been a loyal King Air customer, and their order for the new generation of King Air aircraft is a testament to the incredible value and performance the product offers,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president of Special Mission Sales. “The King Air platform has a long, distinguished tradition of providing exceptional support to air ambulance missions across the globe, and we are delighted to continue supporting CanWest’s mission in Alberta.”

The King Air 350 as well as one of the eight King Air 250 turboprops will include special modifications, including a cargo door and heavyweight landing gear. The King Air 350 will operate at an enhanced max takeoff weight of 16,500 pounds and the King Air 250 at an enhanced max takeoff weight of 13,420 pounds.

Offering speeds up to 302 ktas and a maximum range of 1,806 nautical miles, the King Air 350 can transport air ambulance patients quickly over long distances. Both the King Air 350 and King Air 250 turboprops are able to operate on unimproved runways, which allows easier operation in remote locations found throughout Canada.

“The King Air platform is a tremendous asset, especially when navigating through remote areas and the extreme environment in Alberta,” said Kevin Schaub, director of maintenance at CanWest Air. “Having previously operated King Airs, this is the platform we trust to best support our air ambulance missions. Not only will we continue to have incredible runway performance, but we also couldn’t be more confident in the ability, range, aircraft interior size and comfort, and operating limits of the new fleet to support our air ambulance mission.”

“The reliability, strength and versatility of the King Air enables us to raise the bar in support of the medical needs of patients in the remotest parts of our region, and we now have one of the first aircraft in Canada certified to carry bariatric patients. No other aircraft could have better met our mission,” Schaub added.

CanWest also has elected to enroll in Textron Aviation’s industry-leading ProParts program for the company’s new fleet. The program covers parts and consumables required for line, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, eliminating surprises by providing predictable pricing and greater budget stability.

Specializing in air ambulance, CanWest has operated medevac flights since its inception in 1988. The company is proud to provide reliable, efficient and safe air ambulance transportation to residents of the province of Alberta. CanWest operates nine Beechcraft King Air aircraft dedicated to the company’s air ambulance mission, as well as 20 other Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft to support other services offered by the company such as corporate charter and air freight.

Strengthening special mission portfolios

Textron Aviation offers the broadest lineup of special mission platforms in the industry, with its entire product range available in special mission configurations using innovative technologies and advanced engineering techniques. The versatile Beechcraft King Air products continue to be used throughout the world in multiple roles such as flight inspection, surveillance, maritime patrol and air ambulance.

Images:

Beechcraft King Air 250

Beechcraft King Air 350i