Infrared (IR) technology aboard the modified King Air 260s will enable wildfire mapping at night and through smoke. [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has acquired two new Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft from Textron Aviation to enhance its wildfire mapping capabilities.
These aircraft are equipped with advanced infrared (IR) technology, allowing them to accurately map wildfires at night and through smoke.
The IR technology provides critical data on fire location and spread, aiding both aerial and ground firefighting operations and enabling the detection of newly ignited fires.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) now has two new aerial tools to use in its battle against the tens of thousands of wildfires that char the nation every year.
Textron Aviation (NYSE: TXT) announced last week it has delivered two Beechcraft King Air 260s to the USFS for wildfire mapping missions.
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
