Venezuela Will Use DA42s for Law Enforcement
In a previous post about the various kinds of aviation I mentionned air-police. This is probably one of the smallest niches in aviation, and obviously conservative as it is under state control. Despite that, modern aviation is reaching it, and this is a strong sign to me that nothing can stop its development.
Diamond anounced on the 25th of January 2008 that Venezuela placed an order for 6 DA42 Multi Purpose Platform (MPP). These planes will be equipped with daylight and thermal imagery, and will transmit pictures in real time to ground operators.
The advantages of the DA42 are the following factors:
- Low cost compared to usual platforms
- Low fuel consumption
- Long endurance
- Low noise levels making it less likely to be spotted
- Low flying speed if required
The DA42 MPP is produced by Diamond-Sensing, a subsidiary of the Diamond Group. They offer special versions of the DA40 and of the HK36 SuperDimona with various imaging and laser devices. According to their press release, they have “a long list of potential customers”.
Link to Diamond’s press release.
Category: Modern AviationTags: air-police DA42 DA42 MPP Diamond
