TangoSix – The configuration of a new SMATSA’S King Air 350 aircraft

Unlike the YU-BTC aircraft, the second aircraft shall have the multi-purpose configuration comprising a medical bed for transport of incapacitated passengers enabling, thus, the air ambulance missions.

TangoSix – The configuration of a new SMATSA’S King Air 350 aircraft

04.07.2013

Le Bourget 2013: The configuration of a new SMATSA’s King Air 350 aircraft

Written by: Petar Vojinović – July 4, 2013

Le Bourget – The Beechcraft company appeared on Paris Air Show Le Bourget with a part of their diverse range of products for military and civil purposes, which, for several decades, has been representing the constant evolution of a reliable multi-purpose platforms. Since SMATSA llc has been one of the customers, we were interested to find out about the possible configuration of their latest multi-purpose aircraft King Air 350.

Super King Air 350ER, Photo by: Boran Pivčić

Beechcraft’s static “corral” was full up with the new-old aircraft competing again on the market in more and more fanciful configurations and re-configurations. The exposed proven platforms “studded” with sensors and ordnances represent the current pinnacle of the company from Wichita, the last iteration of which was created in February this year, when Hawker Beechcraft, as a smaller company, had recovered from the one-year process of bankruptcy. The BizJet line was discontinued, and the new Beechcraft flew to Paris to continue its story measured by the production which runs over 54,000 of produced aircraft, out of which, around 36,000 aircraft currently in operation.

In addition to the T-6 and AT-6 demonstrators representing the military program, the King Air 350ER was there on the apron, being the aircraft which was recently acquired by the French Customs, the company’s demonstrator for special-purpose missions King Air 350ER and her older brother for passenger transport King Air 350i.

Air ambulance configuration, Photo by: Boran Pivčić

The first King Air aircraft intended for flight inspection of ground radio-navigation systems was delivered to SMATSA three years ago, as reported on 1st March 2013, and the second aircraft would soon be landing at Belgrade airport. Unlike the YU-BTC aircraft, the second aircraft shall have the multi-purpose configuration comprising a medical bed for transport of incapacitated passengers enabling, thus, the air ambulance missions.

The reason for the purchase of another aircraft is the workload. In 2012, “Tango Charlie” flew for more than 500 hours and visited 25 airports across the region: in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and Hungary. New arrangements are actively being searched for and the market in the region, as far as air ambulance services are concerned, is far from being saturated and exploited, especially for the aircraft of this type and performance.

About the business cooperation with SMATSA, its new aircraft, as well as about the King Air aircraft as a platform, we spoke with the Beechcraft Department of Special Missions Deputy Sale Manager. The report was filmed in the Super King Air 350ER N256NM, the company demonstrator which approximately represents the configuration of the second SMATSA’s aircraft.

 
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