Embraer promotes KC-390 transport for SAR missions

Ottawa, Canada – Embraer is promoting its KC-390 tactical transport aircraft for search and rescue missions at the 2015 Canadian Aerospace Summit. The KC-390 is designed to offer low life cycle cost and the ability to perform multiple missions such as transport and airdrop of troops and cargo, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, aerial refueling, and firefighting.

 

Some features of the KC-390 fit the scenario of SAR operations in Canada:

 

“The KC-390 was designed to perform search and rescue missions in the most demanding environments since its conceptual stage. Therefore we are confident that this aircraft fully meets the operational requirements of the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security.

 

For this type of mission, the sooner you get to the search area, the higher the chances of success, and the turbofan KC-390 aircraft is said to be the fastest fixed wing SAR aircraft in this category. Having been developed to airdrop troops and cargo, and also to refuel helicopters, the KC-390 wing design is suited to long endurance and low speed SAR missions.

 

Latest generation avionics, electro-optic/infrared and radar sensors, and full compatibility with night vision goggles add to the aircraft's capability to perform SAR over land or sea. Full fly-by-wire technology allows the crew to focus on the mission. Internal cabin space can fit gear required for search missions and fast reconfiguration allows the plane to act as a fast transport for injured victims, with litters and life support equipment.