Textron Aviation Lands Air Ambulance Order

Textron Aviation has received an order from Babcock Scandinavian Air Ambulance to provide fixed-wing aircraft for medevac services in Norway. The order covers 10 Beechcraft King Air 250s and a Cessna Latitude, all configured for medical evacuation and air ambulance operations. The fleet is due for delivery by 2019.

Babcock’s order for the Latitude represents the first example of the jet being configured for medevac. The aircraft has a modified door to allow stretchers to be loaded. The midsize jet offers steep-approach capability and short-runway performance, as well as a low cabin altitude. These characteristics make the aircraft well-suited to the air-ambulance role, allowing it to operate across Norway, where many airfields have challenging approach requirements due to terrain. The Latitude also has the range to permit it to cover the whole country with direct flights.

At the same time, the King Air 250s are being delivered with CAT II capability for reduced-visibility operations. They also have steep approach capability and are equipped for polar operations.