Yurok Tribe acquires Special Missions Grand Caravan EX for Aerial Survey and Mapping Missions

WICHITA, Kan. (June 27, 2023) – Textron Aviation Inc. announced today it delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Yurok Tribe’s Condor Aviation. The special missions Grand Caravan EX aircraft will increase the Tribe’s capacity to perform large-scale environmental restoration projects, evaluate long-term natural resource management decisions and quantify the effects of climate change.

Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers travelled to the Cessna factory in Wichita, Kansas for a special event to commemorate the acquisition of the aircraft.

The Yurok Tribe will make use of state-of-the-art Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems and high-end aerial imaging equipment to create extremely accurate three-dimensional maps of the earth’s surface and collect an infinitely broad range of data regarding terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including rivers, lakes and oceans.

“This new aircraft will significantly enhance our ability to holistically restore salmon-spawning streams and make our landscape more resilient to climate change,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. “We employ LiDAR data and high-definition aerial imagery to maximize the efficacy of our efforts to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems and repair fire-damaged forests in Northern California.”

“This new aircraft will significantly enhance our ability to holistically restore salmon-spawning streams and make our landscape more resilient to climate change,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. “We employ LiDAR data and high-definition aerial imagery to maximize the efficacy of our efforts to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems and repair fire-damaged forests in Northern California.”

The Grand Caravan EX joins a Cessna Turbo Skylane already in service with Condor Aviation. In addition to tribal projects, Condor Aviation, in conjunction with the Yurok Fisheries Department’s technical team, provides precision mapping and high-resolution imaging services to a wide range of clients from California to Alaska.

The Yurok Tribe’s Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft is adorned with condor wings and a traditional basket design.

Photo courtesy of Textron Aviation.

About the Cessna Grand Caravan EX

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries with nearly 24 million flight hours amassed worldwide since the aircraft was introduced. Caravans fulfill roles for multiple missions, ranging from flight training to recreation, commuter airlines to VIP transport, cargo carriers and humanitarian missions. The Grand Caravan EX aircraft is known for its dependable and efficient performance by regional airlines, charter operators, cargo carriers and special missions operators worldwide. The aircraft offers an impressive output of 867 horsepower and a rate of climb of 1,275 feet per minute.

About Condor Aviation and the Yurok Tribe

The Yurok Tribe is the most populous federally recognized tribe in California. With more than 50 biologists, ecologists and engineers as well as many other subject-matter experts, the tribe administers one of the largest fisheries departments on the West Coast. Condor Aviation is a partnership between the Yurok Tribe’s award-winning Fisheries Department and the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation. Using a newly acquired Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft fitted with high-resolution aerial imaging and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) equipment, the technologically advanced equipment can create extremely precise three-dimensional maps of the earth’s surface, while concurrently accumulating an infinitely broad range of information regarding terrestrial and aquatic environments. Condor Aviation will use the precision tools to collect myriad data, which will help drive the design of large-scale river and habitat restoration projects, inform long-term natural resources management decisions and illuminate the impact of climate change. Condor Aviation also offers contract mapping services to tribal, federal, state, and local partners in the Klamath Basin and across the U.S.

Yurok Vice Fisheries Department Director Barry McCovey Jr travelled to the Cessna factory in Wichita, Kansas for a special event to commemorate the acquisition of the aircraft.

Yurok Fisheries Department Senior Engineer David Bandrowski

About Textron Aviation

We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special missions, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight.

About Textron

Textron is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Source https://media.txtav.com/227383-yurok-tribe-acquires-textron-aviation-special-missions-grand-caravan-ex-for-aerial-survey-and-mapping-missions

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