Victoria Police Air Wing has taken delivery of their new Beechcraft King Air 350ER, Textron Aviation announced this week.
The King Air 350ER will support VicPol operations, which leads airborne law enforcement, training, search and rescue, and extended offshore marine safety missions throughout the state.
“By integrating the King Air 350ER into their fleet, Victoria Police Air Wing greatly enhances the capabilities of the professionals who respond to more than 5000 taskings every year,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation.
“The turbo-prop’s unique combination of proven performance, range, speed and ease of operation makes it a trusted platform for large law enforcement agencies like Victoria Police.”
The VicPol King Air includes an advanced mission management system, ground moving target indicator object detection, Tactical Flight Officer workstations, satellite communications and a data downlink.
The Aircraft is fitted with optional factory-installed Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engines.
“The King Air 350ER will undertake a wide variety of roles and enhance aviation capabilities of Victoria Police. With extended endurance and range, it will complement our helicopters by providing a valuable, uninterrupted observation platform that will support police across the state” said Ashley Bellamy, Aviation Program Director, Victoria Police.
Service company Skytraders will operate the aircraft on behalf of VicPol, which hasn't had fixed-wing capability for more than 20 years.
Victoria Police Air Wing has also taken delivery of the first of three AW139 helicopters intended to replace their ageing fleet of AS365s.