Tel Aviv: Israeli company BIRD Aerosystems, has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) – for its Cessna CJ3 ASIO Special Mission Aircraft. The granted STC follows a modification of the aircraft into a special mission configuration and includes all the structural and electrical changes to the aircraft to support the installation of the airborne surveillance sensors (Radar, EOP, AIS), multiple communication equipment, and BIRD’s operator workstations and pilot display.
The full STC program including the installation design, analysis, justifications and modification activities were conducted by BIRD Aerosystems’ platform engineering department and by BIRD’s MRO in Cyprus. The STC also enables a dual-use of the aircraft including a special mission surveillance configuration and a VIP configuration, furthermore allowing to change the cabin configurations without the need to dismantle the ASIO sensors and systems.
The STC received by the CAAI is now also being adapted by the FAA and EASA, and will enable BIRD to provide its worldwide customers with a certified special mission aircraft solution which can be delivered in various configurations and under very short schedules.
BIRD’s ASIO Special Mission Aircraft is an end-to-end airborne Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) solution ideal for maritime and ground surveillance, search and rescue, patrol and monitoring. ASIO offers decision-makers and field commanders accurate, real-time terrestrial and maritime information that dramatically enhances situational awareness. A true force multiplier, ASIO enables even small crews to deliver detailed and comprehensive surveillance information covering large geographic areas.
Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems: “We are excited to announce that we have received this unique STC on a Citation Jet. The hard work invested by our internal platform engineering department and our MRO in Cyprus, together with our partners at the CAAI, enabled us to complete this challenging STC certification successfully and fulfil our mission of delivering turn-key programs to our customers. Always at the forefront of technology, we can now offer our customers a fully certified, maritime and ground surveillance aircraft solution that is cost-effective and can be delivered under very short schedules”.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
