US airborne surveillance and security firm AirScan has ordered two Adam Aircraft A500s and finalised an option to buy 30 more of the all-composite piston twins. The aircraft will replace Cessna 337 Skymasters and expand the fleet to meet growing demand for surveillance services, says Rockledge, Florida-based AirScan.
The A500 is in development at Englewood, Colorado-based Adam, with US certification in the second quarter. The company has completed flight testing the first production prototype, first flown in July last year, and is preparing it for static testing. The second of three planned prototypes will fly soon.
AirScan says it selected the A500 after an extensive search for a Cessna 337 replacement. The A500 has the same centreline-thrust powerplant arrangement as the 337, providing improved single-engine safety, but promises a big increase in performance. The pressurised A500 is expected to be certificated to 25,000ft (7,600m), with a 250kt (460km/h) cruise speed and 2,100km (1,150nm) range.
Average mission time with the Cessna 337 is 2.5-4h, which will be extended to 4-7h with the A500, says AirScan vice-president Chris Holloway. Each of the company's 12 Skymasters is equipped with a wing-mounted infrared and television sensor payload, with an operator's console in the cabin. The A500 will be able to carry two sensor packages and two operators.
Formed in 1989, AirScan provides surveillance and security services under contract to government agencies and private companies. It has carried out surveillance of US space and missile launch sites, and is providing airborne security for Conoco and Chevron oil compounds in Angola. AirScan has operated anti-poaching patrols in Malaysia, and is under contract to respond to any major oil spill in US coastal waters.
Other missions include remote sensing, maritime surveillance and environment management. The A500 options depend on AirScan securing contracts, says Holloway.
Source: Flight International
