More Sales for Patrol Version of EADS CASA Twin Turboprop

Spain's CASA, an element of the pan-European EADS group, has disclosed the sale of a third C-212 Series 400 to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. To be delivered in a year's time, the aircraft will allow the Ministry to have one patrol aircraft permanently stationed on Spain's Atlantic coast, the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands for coverage of the country's extensive EEZ (exclusive economic zone).

More than 460 of these turboprop twins have not been sold, including licensed production in Indonesia. The square-fuselage 212, whose previous name of 'Aviocar' has now been discarded in favor of its numerical designation, is generally used as a light transport. However, several special missions versions are available, including the Patrullero maritime surveillance model, an electronic countermeasures version, and others fitted with cameras for mapping and survey work.

The C-212 has accumulated in excess of 2.5 million flying hours with 90 operators around the world. In its latest version, the Series 400, it has modern glass cockpit instrumentation replacing many of the traditional dials.

By Paul Jackson