Pilatus Hands Over First PC-12 to US Government

from FlightGlobal:

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DATE:24/11/09
By Kate Sarsfield

The US government has taken delivery of its first Pilatus PC 12. The single-engined turboprop will be used by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in a multi-role capacity covering passenger and cargo transport, tactical and aerial surveillance missions.

"The BLM's PC-12 features a utility door that can be opened in flight," says Pilatus. "It is mounted within the PC-12's standard cargo door and enables the aircraft to depressurise and perform specialist parachute work, drop supplies or relief materials, and later re-pressurise and return to high-speed cruise at altitude."

The BLM is responsible for the management and conservation of resources on 100 million Ha (256 million acres) of land in the USA. These public lands make up about 13% of the total land surface of the country and more than 40% of all land managed by the US government. The PC-12 will be based at the BLM's facility in Boise, Idaho.

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I wouldn't consider it to be the first PC-12 to be handed over to the US. The 319th Specials Operations Squadron (SOS) out of Hurlburt Field near Destin FL has a few of them, designated as U-28As.

Maybe the first press release about it though :)

CBP has a few, as well. N541PB was on display at the Andrews show a couple years ago http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6686738&nseq=1