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Diamond Aircraft Industries

Diamond DA62

Press Release

NSAS pilot and flight administrator Kevin De Guesquiere and pilot Tom Seru with Diamond Aircraft Austria special mission aircraft division director Markus Fischer, senior design engineer Manuel Matzinger and project manager Julian Prikril.

Issued by Diamond Aircraft Industries.

March 13, 2022

North Sea Aviation Services expands MPP fleet with two DA62 MPPs

On February 24th, Diamond Aircraft completed delivery of two DA62 MPPs to North Sea Aviation Services (NSAS), a Belgian air surveillance and reconnaissance missions operator and sister company to Ostend FBO North Sea Aviation Center. The aircraft are configured in a maritime surveillance fit and feature the latest technology of electro-optical and infrared cameras (EO/IR), maritime radar as well as an AIS (Automatic Identification System for ships).

NSAS already operates the DA42 MPP and identified the benefits of the larger DA62 MPP as key motives to upgrade its fleet with the DA62 MPP. Specifically the increased cabin size, which significantly improves crew comfort during long missions, was key in the decision-making process.

Equipped with the multi-purpose nose, which carries the EO/IR turret, the BR700 belly radome that houses the maritime radar and the single seats, including a centre console with integrated radio and control devices for the operators, in the rear make the aircraft the most advanced and versatile surveillance platform in its class.

Mario Spiegel, sales manager, special mission aircraft division at Diamond Aircraft Austria, says,” Maritime surveillance is often still conducted by large and expensive aircraft, sometimes even with less advanced sensors or vintage equipment such as binoculars. Where the data collected by larger and smaller aircraft are the same, when equipped with equivalent role equipment, there is one factor getting more and more fundamental; environment-friendliness. With the modern piston engines, utiliding up-to-date automotive technology, burning as little as 10 US gallons of Jet fuel per hour (in loiter) it is needless to say that the DA62 MPP is by far the greenest surveillance aircraft on the market.”

Markus Fischer, director, special mission aircraft division at Diamond Aircraft Austria, says, “After so many years in our business it is still inspiring to see our new developments deploying in real operation, in particular to new friends and business partners like NSAS. NSAS has great plans, and we will do our best to support it wherever it is necessary and look forward for its feedback to push the MPP to become an even more capable airborne asset.”

Jef de Kinder, founder and CEO of NSAS, commented, “Due to its great fuel efficiency, flexible platform, advanced aircraft design and many other features, NSAS quickly preferred the DA62 MPP. The low operating cost combined with the high mission standard delivers extraordinary results, leaving the competition behind and creating a class of its own. Diamond Aircraft Industries therefore has excelled thanks to its constant innovation.”